Robert Bilz

Robert Bilz, 86, of Radcliff, died Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown.

He was preceded in death by Martha, his wife of 65 years; his parents, Bruno and Marie Bilz of Huckeswagen, Germany; his stepmother, Waltraud Bilz of Linz, Austria; and two brothers, James and Bernard.

Born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey, Robert graduated from St. Boniface Grammar School and attended St. John's High School. He completed his high school requirements while in the U.S. Army.

A veteran of World War II and Korea, 1st Sgt. Bilz retired from the U.S. Army on Sept. 1, 1968, after serving more than 23 years.
Robert completed Army basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and immediately was sent to Germany to join the 9th Infantry Division. His assignments include three tours in Germany, Austria, the Azores, Tripoli, North Africa, Japan and Korea.

Sgt. Bilz performed duties as a stockade guard at the Nurnburg Palace of Justice during the War Crimes Trials of November 1946; instructor at the U.S. Army Constabulary School in Sonthofen, Germany; Armor intelligence specialist during the Berlin Airlift; and tank gunnery instructor at the Armor School at Fort Knox.

Sgt. Bilz also was a tank gunnery instructor for the 53rd Armor, New Jersey Army National Guard; first sergeant of Headquarters Company of the 2nd Battalion, 64th Armor, and sergeant major of the 2nd Battalion, 64th Armor at Schweinfurt, Germany.

While assigned to the advisory group of the New Jersey Army National Guard, Sgt. Bilz was selected as the First Army's Outstanding Soldier of the Year in 1962. Sgt. Bilz was the honorary sergeant major of the 6th Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, and was a Knight of the Royal and Noble Order of the Spur.

Sgt. Bilz was a master tanker in the U.S. Army and a Kentucky Colonel. He was a member of St. Patrick's Parish of Fort Knox and served as lector, altar server and minister of the Most Holy Eucharist at the Cavalry Chapel at Fort Knox. He was awarded the Saint George medal for his efforts.

Sgt. Bilz was a member of American Legion Post 113 in Elizabethtown, life member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 156 in Radcliff, member of the Korean War Veterans Association, life member of the U.S. Constabulary Association and member of the 72nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division Association. He also was commander of the Radcliff chapter of the Disabled American Veterans for 10 years.

Robert was an American Red Cross volunteer at the Fort Knox Ireland Army Hospital, visiting patients, bringing Holy Communion to inpatients, having communion services in the hospital chapel and worked at the information desk for many years.

Mr. Bilz used his talents and compassion as a Disabled American Veterans state service officer, filing claims for veterans benefits on behalf of his fellow veterans and their families.

Robert is survived by his son, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. (retired) Robert B. Bilz and his wife, Supa, of Radcliff; two sisters, Marie Fisher of McAfee and Helen Wycoff of Butler, New Jersey. Also twin granddaughters, Bobie Jo Bilz (Steinmacher) of Louisville and Barbara Ann Thompson and two great-grandsons of Colton, California.

A Mass of Christian burial is at noon Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Prichard Chapel on Fort Knox with the Rev. Bernardino Yebra officiating. Burial with full military honors is at North Hardin Memorial Gardens in Radcliff.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Nelson-Edelen-Bennett Funeral Home in Radcliff. There will be no visitation Wednesday prior to the service at church.

Expressions of sympathy should be sent to the Disabled American Veterans, Radcliff Chapter 156. The office is in the basement of Radcliff City Hall.