Francis Stortz
Francis L. Stortz, 92, of Waukon passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon with his family by his side. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 11 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. Fr. John Moser will be officiating, and visitation will begin at 9 a.m. He will be buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Francis Leo Stortz was born May 13, 1931, to Leonard and Vera (Stoskopf) Stortz at the family farmhouse north of Decorah. He was baptized at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah. His family relocated to rural Waukon in 1939 where he was confirmed at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and attended country school through middle school.
February 25, 1952, Francis was united in marriage to Kathryn Mary Schulte at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (Lycurgus) in Allamakee County. Francis and Kathryn settled west of Waukon where they farmed and raised their ten children. From 1952-2017, Francis rented and purchased land in the rural Waukon area and raised crops and livestock. He offered custom hay baling and crop harvesting as he managed his expanding farm operation.
Francis enjoyed life as a farmer. He loved the land, the animals, and watching the crops grow. He was a well-known and respected farmer in the community, and member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. He enjoyed playing cards, going for drives to check the crops and livestock; and was known fondly by his family and friends as a talker and storyteller.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn; his parents; two sisters, Margaret Stortz and Elizabeth Akre; and a brother-in-law, Ron Akre.
Francis is survived by his 10 children: Louise Lawson, Becky Johnson, Diane (Jack) Allison, Coni (John) Leonard, Mary Francis (Jeff) Burke, Steve (Donna) Stortz, Jenny (John) Opfer, Rachelle (Alasdair) Cripps, Christine (Frank) Wolbert, and Angela (Todd) Desrosiers; a sister, Patricia (Russell) Schirm; his brother, James “Jimmy” (Shirley) Stortz; 27 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
