Bernard N. Portz

Bernard N. Portz, 84 years old, of Hospers, IA died Friday, June 10, 2011, St. Luke’s Lutheran Home in Spencer, IA. 
        Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Hospers with Rev. Paul Eisele officiating.  Burial will be in the St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery in Hospers.  Visitation will be anytime after 4 p.m. on Monday, June 13, 2011.  There will be a rosary at 5 p.m. by the Knights of Columbus, and a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. all at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Hospers.  Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument of Remsen, IA.
        Bernard was born on Jan. 11, 1927, at rural Hospers, IA, the son of Nicholas & Mary (Pottebaum) Portz.  He was raised in the Hospers area and received his education at St. Anthony’s Catholic School in Hospers.  He was then a farm laborer in the Hospers area.  On May 9, 1946 he entered the U.S. Army and served stateside during WWII in a medical unit.  He was honorably discharged Nov. 5, 1947, and returned to the Hospers area. 
        On Aug. 21, 1951 he married Catharine Freking at Hospers, where they made their home.  In 1951 he began trucking & hauling livestock in the Hospers area and later expanded into cross country trucking until 1971.  He then began working for C & E Products in Lemars, IA.  In 1977, he began working for Verschoor Automotive at Sheldon, IA in their parts department.  In the mid 1980’s he obtained his GED and began working for the city of Hospers in their maintenance department and was their water technician until he retired in 1994.  He then worked part time driving truck for Interstate Electric in Sioux Center, IA until 1998.
        Bernard was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus of Granville, IA.  Reuter Post 0423 American Legion.  During his life he enjoyed many things such as, small engine repair, TV and radio electronics, fishing and playing cards with the guys downtown.  Driving his golf cart downtown for coffee, photography & flying small engine planes.
        Survivors include: his wife, Catharine of Hospers; four children, daughter Veronica Degen & her husband Paul of Urbandale, IA, and their children, Michael, Madeline, Maria & Sarah all at home, son Matthew of Ashton, IA, and his children, Cassandra, Stan & Abbie all at home, daughter Esther Nilles & her husband Paul of Ashton, IA, and their children, Andrew, Laura, Brian, Douglas, Theresa & Claire all at home, son Timothy of Charles City, IA; one daughter-in-law, Karen Portz of Warsaw, IN, and their children, Tiffany Makinson & her husband Jeremy & their daughter Ava of Pierceton, IN & Ashley Portz & her husband Jeremy Pifer of Winona Lake, IN; one brother, Herbert Portz of Hospers; five sisters, Elvira Youngers & her husband Ray of Sun City West, AZ, Cordella Hansen & her husband George of Windom, MN, Charlotte Von Arb of Spring, TX, Flora Hansen & her husband Nick of Alton, IA, Lorna Mae Portz of Hospers.
        Preceded in death by, his parents & one son, Stanley, one brother-in-law, “Bud” Everett Von Arb.
        Casket Bearers will be: Paul Degen, Paul Nilles, Stan Portz, Dan Klein, Mark Klein, Gary Hansen.