Elmer Bartz

Elmer C. Bartz, age 91 of Waseca, passed away peacefully in his sleep in his rural Waseca home on Monday, July 13, 2009.             A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 17th at 11:00 a.m. at McRaith Funeral Home in Waseca with Rev. Reyna Purcell officiating. Interment with military honors will be in the Woodville Cemetery.             The Bartz Family will greet friends on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at McRaith Funeral Home in Waseca, and will continue on Friday morning for one hour prior to services, at the funeral home.             Elmer Carl was born on February 23, 1918 in Waseca County, Minnesota to Richard and Lydia (Reick) Bartz. He attended Wilton Township Country School, Waseca County. He was united in marriage to Edna Amelia Kath in Northwood, Iowa. Elmer served in the U.S. Army during WWII in Japan. Upon his honorable discharge from the military he returned home to raise his family and farm with his wife Edna in Waseca County. He also worked for Birds Eye in Waseca for many years while farming. He and Edna lived in their Woodville Township home for 61 years, and enjoyed 66 years of marriage. His favorite hobby was cutting wood for the wood burning stove. He enjoyed mowing grass, and playing cards. Elmer volunteered his time with Meals on Wheels for the last 6 years, and started bingo for the elderly in Waseca. His "bingo friends" brought him much enjoyment in the last years of his life. Elmer also enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons and grandsons. He was a wonderful storyteller, and a kind and dedicated father to his six children.              Elmer is survived by his two daughters Anita (Don) Southwick of Waterville, Bonnie (Dick) Kern of Mankato; by his four sons Mike (Judy) Bartz, Dick Bartz, Brad (Joan) Bartz, and Dennis (Marcia) Bartz, all of Waseca; by 17 grandchildren and 45 great grandchildren; by his sisters-in-law Ida Fell of Waseca, Marie Bartz of Owatonna, Velva Kath of West Concord             He was preceded in death by his wife Edna on Jan. 19, 2003; by his three sisters Florence Wallace, Luverne Wilker, and Marcella Berg, and his five brothers Roy, Raymond, Harold, Harvey, and Herbert Bartz.             Honorary bearers are Elmer's granddaughters; Dawn Holthus, Kimberley Suchta, Heather George, Marya Eustice, Julianna Miller, and Melissa Hanson.