William F. 'Bill' Gatz
William F. "Bill" Gatz, 68,
of rural Newton, farmer and former supervisor of the Harvey County
Noxious Weeds Department for more than 23 years, died Tuesday (May 4,
1999) at his home.
He was born Jan. 8, 1931, in rural
Newton to William H. and Lucy M. Gatz. He married Mary Dolores Lies
May 22, 1956, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Newton. She survives
of the home.
He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic
Church, Knights of Columbus and American Legion. He was a past
trustee for Newton Township for 20 years. He served stateside duty in
the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 1954 and on the USS Kearsarge SVA 33
during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954.
Other survivors include: a son, William
H. Gatz of Newton; two daughters, Cheryl Byrne of Manassas, Va., and
Annette M. Burris of Emporia; three sisters, Mareta Lies of Kansas
City, Kan., Margaret Unruh of Andover; and Teresa Sawyer of Houston;
two brothers, Vincent Gatz of Newton and Bernard Gatz of Halstead;
and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his
parents.
Rosary service will be at 8 p.m. Friday
at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Funeral service will be 10 a.m.
Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father Ken Schuckman
officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m.
Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Petersen's Funeral Home
in Newton.
Memorials have been established with
Central Homecare and Hospice and St. Mary's Catholic School in care
of the funeral home.
