1932
Edward
2012
Edward D. Vertz
March 20, 1932 — February 1, 2012
Munising
Edward D. Vertz, age 79, of 1470 Center Street, Munising, died Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:10 p.m.at Munising Memorial Hospital following a lengthy illness. Ed was born on March 20, 1932 in Manistique, Michigan to the late Daniel and Mary (Paquin) Vertz. The family moved to Munising when Ed was a child and he graduated from Sacred Heart School and then attended Wm. G. Mather High School. He worked for the Munising Paper Company before joining the U.S. Army during the Korean War from February 26, 1951 until February 9, 1954. Ed returned home and worked at the Munising Woodenware. He married D. Lorraine Adair on October 20, 1956 and together they raised their four children. Ed began employment at Kimberly Clark on September 23, 1957 as a utility helper in the labor pool. On December 22, 1958, he posted into the specialties department as a utility helper and progressed to Kimlon sheeter operator. Ed served as the Union President from 1976 - 1982. He retired on January 1, 1992 after thirty-four years of continuous service. Ed was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Church. He was an altar boy growing up, he also altar served while he was in the Army stationed in France, and was an usher at church. He was also a member of the American Legion and marched for years in many parades with the Legion's Color Guard. He played softball and coached his son's Little League teams to 15-0. Ed was very proud of his Native American heritage and his family lovingly called him "Chief Nakoma." After his retirement, he loved watching his grandchildren play sports and he operated "Grampa's Taxi Service." He always had a bag of M&M's for the grandkids and would stay up to watch Saturday Night Live so he was "hip" on the latest catch phrases...."Whaaaazup?" Ed was a Detroit Tiger and Lions fan and he enjoyed gardening.
He is survived by his wife of over fifty-five years - Lorraine of Munising; children - Cynthia Ryan of Munising, Dean (Carla) Vertz of Three Rivers, MI, Dennis (Kathy) Vertz of Nashville, TN, and Joan (George) Brisson of Munising; grandchildren - Marenzie, Danielle, Michael, Jamie, Lindsey, Daniel, Rachel, Blair, Travis, Erica, Karen Kathy, Bill, and Robbie; great-grandchildren - Gage, Cole, Andre', Gracie, Kaylee, and Selah; sisters - Theresa (Bill) Boldt of California and Lillian Coskie of Negaunee; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Rick Ryan, brothers William, Leonard, Daniel, Raymond, and Lawrence, and sisters Ellen, Marie, and Cecilia.
Visitation will be on Friday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 at the Bowerman Funeral Home, with a Parish Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m., where friends and family will have opportunity to share stories and remembrances. Father Ben Paris will celebrate Ed's funeral Mass on Saturday, February 4, at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in the spring where the American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
Edward D. Vertz, age 79, of 1470 Center Street, Munising, died Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:10 p.m.at Munising Memorial Hospital following a lengthy illness. Ed was born on March 20, 1932 in Manistique, Michigan to the late Daniel and Mary (Paquin) Vertz. The family moved to Munising when Ed was a child and he graduated from Sacred Heart School and then attended Wm. G. Mather High School. He worked for the Munising Paper Company before joining the U.S. Army during the Korean War from February 26, 1951 until February 9, 1954. Ed returned home and worked at the Munising Woodenware. He married D. Lorraine Adair on October 20, 1956 and together they raised their four children. Ed began employment at Kimberly Clark on September 23, 1957 as a utility helper in the labor pool. On December 22, 1958, he posted into the specialties department as a utility helper and progressed to Kimlon sheeter operator. Ed served as the Union President from 1976 - 1982. He retired on January 1, 1992 after thirty-four years of continuous service. Ed was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Church. He was an altar boy growing up, he also altar served while he was in the Army stationed in France, and was an usher at church. He was also a member of the American Legion and marched for years in many parades with the Legion's Color Guard. He played softball and coached his son's Little League teams to 15-0. Ed was very proud of his Native American heritage and his family lovingly called him "Chief Nakoma." After his retirement, he loved watching his grandchildren play sports and he operated "Grampa's Taxi Service." He always had a bag of M&M's for the grandkids and would stay up to watch Saturday Night Live so he was "hip" on the latest catch phrases...."Whaaaazup?" Ed was a Detroit Tiger and Lions fan and he enjoyed gardening.
He is survived by his wife of over fifty-five years - Lorraine of Munising; children - Cynthia Ryan of Munising, Dean (Carla) Vertz of Three Rivers, MI, Dennis (Kathy) Vertz of Nashville, TN, and Joan (George) Brisson of Munising; grandchildren - Marenzie, Danielle, Michael, Jamie, Lindsey, Daniel, Rachel, Blair, Travis, Erica, Karen Kathy, Bill, and Robbie; great-grandchildren - Gage, Cole, Andre', Gracie, Kaylee, and Selah; sisters - Theresa (Bill) Boldt of California and Lillian Coskie of Negaunee; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Rick Ryan, brothers William, Leonard, Daniel, Raymond, and Lawrence, and sisters Ellen, Marie, and Cecilia.
Visitation will be on Friday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 at the Bowerman Funeral Home, with a Parish Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m., where friends and family will have opportunity to share stories and remembrances. Father Ben Paris will celebrate Ed's funeral Mass on Saturday, February 4, at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in the spring where the American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
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