Gaylord "Shorty" Krutza's Obituary
Gaylord “Shorty” Krutza age 90, passed away at Aspirus Wausau Hospital with his family at his side on Monday February 29, 2016. Shorty was born on May 28, 1925 in the Town of Lanark Portage County to Albert and Katie (Riley) Krutza. He was a graduate of Amherst High School. Shorty married Carolyn Peterson on June 15, 1946 at St. Patrick Parish Lanark. They settled on the family dairy farm and raised 7 children. Shorty loved life, but most of all he loved Mom and family…in a larger sense the community became his family. He found special joy and loved working and was especially proud that he worked until he was 80 for the Department of Agriculture and felt a special relationship with the farmers he served. He found great joy serving on the Tomorrow River School Board for 27 years. He enjoyed creating a wonderful yard with an irrigation system that could have watered Portage County. Feeding the deer and ducks gave him great joy. Most of all, he loved spending time by attending the kid’s events.
Shorty is survived by his soul mate Carolyn Krutza of Amherst; his children Barb (Bill) Lepak, Mike (Laurie) Krutza of Minocqua, Pat (Gloria) Krutza of Monroe, Tom (Barb) Krutza of Amherst, Mary (Tom) Jensen of Amherst Jct., Peg (Tom) Kolbeck of Stevens Point, and Kathy (John) Van Nuys of Amherst; 19 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren and 2 more expected in 2016; one sister Rita (Al) Bestul of Winona, MN and a sister-in-law Joyce Mills of Germantown.
Shorty was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Katie Krutza; brothers Gregory and Lloyd Krutza; brother-in-laws Donald Peterson, Benny and Calvin Mills; sister-in-laws Irene Krutza and Ann Peterson, and one great grandson Noah Anthony Nondorf.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday March 12, 2016 at 11 AM at the St. James Catholic Church in Amherst. Father Bob Pedretti and Father Dan Hackel will officiate. A visitation will be held on Friday March 11, 2016 from 4-8 PM at the Jungers-Holly Funeral Home in Amherst and again on Saturday from 9-11 AM at church. Burial of cremains will be held at a later date at the St. James Catholic Cemetery.
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