George Lartz Jr.

Lartz, George, Jr.

George Fredrick (Bub) Lartz, Jr, passed away at Covenant Home in Sheboygan Falls on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at the age of 101.

George was born in Chicago on December 2, 1912, the first of five children: Wally, Ted, Ginni, and Ann. George lost his mother, Florence, at age six in the Flu epidemic of 1918. His father, George Sr., later remarried, Georgiana. George grew up in Morton Grove, outside of Chicago. His father was an entrepreneur: door-to-door Hoover salesman, photo flash inventor, and owner of a photo mount business, to name a few.

After graduating from Evanston High School in 1932, George was unable to find work during the Great Depression. He rejoined his family which had moved to Hickory Corners, Wisconsin earlier that same year after losing their home to the bank. He found work on a WPA road crew for 50 cents an hour. He saved his money and enrolled in Stout State College in 1934. While home for the Thanksgiving weekend and attending the Hickory Corners Church of Christ with his family, he met a beautiful young woman, Edna Longard. Their lifetime of love and respect started on September 19, 1936.

Florence Hazel, named after her grandmothers, was born in March, 1938. Upon graduation from Stout College, that same year, they moved to Ocean City, Maryland for his first teaching job. George taught Industrial Arts and Mathematics. Richard Harvey, at 2 1/1 years of age, was adopted into the family in the fall of 1944. Dick was named after Edna's cousin, Harvey Longard, who died on Omaha Beach on D-Day.

During the war, in addition to teaching, George was the coordinator of the Frederick County War Production Vocational Training. He spent his evenings preparing men and women to work in production on behalf of the war effort; he would receive a commendation for his work.

They returned to Sheboygan in 1946, teaching Industrial Arts at Grant, Lincoln and Jefferson schools. George then taught at Urban Junior High School for sixteen years. Between 1950 and 1955 he left teaching to manage the Silvis Hardware store. In the spring of 1950, they purchased a home on HWY 32 in Sheboygan Falls where he resided for sixty years. George and Edna had their third child, Mary Sue, in 1951. While teaching George earned his master's degree from UW-Milwaukee in Educational Administration in 1961, and was inducted into the Phi Delta Kappa honor society.

George took his retirement in 1976 to devote his time to various Bible teaching ministries. He served as an Elder in the Zion Christian Assembly in Sheboygan, and in an itinerant ministry throughout the Midwest. George and Edna spent over thirty-five summers devoted to the summer camp, Story Book Lodge Christian Camp in Gilbert, Minnesota. George served as board chairman as well as Bible teacher and served on the sponsors committee.

George was a very peaceful and joyous man with a tremendous sense of humor. His one-liner spontaneous jokes have entertained his family, friends, and students for many years. He had many talents. He loved to build and restore furniture, sharing with friends and family over the years. During his teaching years he wrote numerous professional articles that were published relating to Industrial Arts education. For many years he wrote a bi-monthly paper for the Gospel Folio Press with a spiritual appeal to children and adults. He was known for humor with a purpose. Above all, he loved to teach the practical spiritual lessons learned from a life-long study of God's Word.

George was married to the love of his life Edna, for sixty-five years. He was the oldest and last surviving brother of Ted, Walter, Virginia Von Haden, and Ann Day, survived by sister-in-law Fern Lartz and brother-in-law Robert Von Haden. He was preceded in death by his parents, George Sr., Florence, and his step-mother Georgiana, his infant daughter, Sharon Ann, his daughter, Flo Young, and his wife, Edna. Survivors include Richard H. Lartz (Kathy) of Nashotah, WI, Mary Sue Koch (Richard) of Waukesha, WI and five grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

George bravely faced the challenges of aging and was supported by his Zion Chapel community and his lifelong friend, Allen Hanson. The kindness and caring of the entire staff of Pine Haven Christian Home, and Covenant Home of Sheboygan Falls, where George resided for the last four years, was greatly appreciated. The staff of Serenity Hospice, and Chaplain David Van Dixhorn further assisted George in his journey home.

Funeral services to celebrate George's life will be held at 12:00 pm on Saturday, April 12, 2014, at the Wenig Funeral Home in Sheboygan Falls. Private interment will take place at Hickory Corners Cemetery in Hickory Corners, Wisconsin.

Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home from 10:00 am until the time of the service at noon.

Memorial may be given to Pine Haven Christian Home, Zion Christian Assembly, or Story Book Lodge Christian Camp.

For online condolences and additional information please visit www.wenigfuneralhome.com