Funeral Services for Earl Vernon Hartz, 85, formerly of Newton, will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Newton. A visitation with the family will be held Friday at Pence-Reese Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m. Burial will be in the St. Paul Cemetery, Lacona, at 3 p.m. Memorials in Earl’s name may be designated to the American Cancer Society, or Our Savior Lutheran Church.

Earl V. Hartz, the son of Ernest Julius and Dora Rose (Langebartels) Hartz, was born March 4, 1924, in rural Lacona. He attended the Walker School in Warren County. Earl served his country with the US Army, during World War II.

On Oct. 2, 1949, Earl was united in marriage with Audrey Marie Borchert at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lacona. They lived in Knoxville, prior to moving to Newton in 1951. Earl was employed by the Maytag Company. He retired after 38 years, from the Dryer Assembly Department, in December 1987.

He had devoted his life to his family and friends, and was a Charter member and officer of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Newton and served on the board of Willis Day Care Center.

In 1996, Earl married Erika Hansen, an avid hiker like himself. Earl and Erika attended church at Fountain of Life Lutheran Church, in Tucson, Ariz.

Earl died on Saturday morning, Jan. 16, 2010, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson, Ariz. He was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey on Dec. 12, 1990; his daughter, Joan Elaine in infancy; two brothers and their spouses: Arthur Hartz and Ivan Hartz; and two sisters and their spouses: Hilda Stearns and Frieda Schrader.

Those left to honor Earl’s memory include his wife Erika; his sons: Vernon Lynn (Deborah) Hartz of Tucson, Ariz., and Myron Earl (Cheryl) Hartz of Prescott Valley, Ariz.; his step-granddaughter Andrea Barker; his four grandchildren: Molly, Ethan, Laura and Lisa Hartz; his brother Virgil (Grace) Hartz of Newton; his many nieces and nephews; and many good friends.

Online condolences may be left for the family at: www.pencefh.com.