Walter Raymond Bortz age 78, of Ames died Monday, Oct. 10, at Northcrest Health Care Center. A gathering of friends and family will be 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care with a 10:30 a.m. Friday Oct. 14, funeral service at First United Methodist Church in Ames. Interment will be at Ames Municipal Cemetery.
Walter was born in Napoleon, Ohio on October 29, 1932, son of Raymond A. and Martha M. Moehrman Bortz. He received his BA from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, Masters from Ball State University in Indiana, and his PhD. from Ohio State University in Ohio, all in Industrial Education and Technology. He was a Navy Veteran and served during the Korean Conflict. Walter met and married Janice (Jan) Shepherd June 1, 1963 in Columbus, Ohio. He was an assistant professor at Iowa State University from 1971 until 1995 when he retired. He received the ISU Advisor of the Year Award in 1995. He was a member of First United Methodist Church where he was a member of the Choir, the Methodist Men, served on the Board of Trustees and shared the responsibility of the renovation of the front entrance. He was also a member of American Legion Post #37 where he served several years on the Honor Guard for veteran's services, and Voiture 40/8 post #285 where he served as chairman of their Nurses' Scholarship Program. He was a member of the Golden Kiwanis, Honorary Member of Epsilon Tau Pi, Ohio Teachers Association, Iowa Industrial Arts Association, and Iowa Vocational Association for 25 years. Walt had so many interests and activities he enjoyed in earlier years. He enjoyed playing fast and slow pitch softball, building boats and boating, building a banjo, tractors, planes and soloing one time, radio controlled airplanes, black powder hunting, gardening, bowling, and music of many kinds were a big part of his life. He will be remembered for his wonderful smile and great sense of humor by those whose lives he touched, his continual desire to always be offering advice to old and young, and having great conversations with anyone on almost any topic.
He is survived by his wife Jan, of Ames, daughters, Elaine (David) Moldvay of Maryland, Diane Bortz of Scottsdale, AZ, and Cheryl (Jason) Close of Seattle, WA, , three grandchildren, Savannah and Jacob Moldvay, and Julian Close, and a sister, Arlene (Larry) Agler of Holgate, Ohio.
Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church or Homeward Hospice.
Online condolences may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com
Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care is assisting the family.