WILLIAM RUPRECHT KATZ ,

"BILL"

Died at 2 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2003, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge. He was 88, a retired merchant and a longtime resident of Livonia. He was born in Dahn, Palatinate, Germany, Oct. 8, 1914, the fifth son of Joseph and Thekla Teutsch Katz . He had four brothers, Albert and Fritz "Uri" who emigrated to Israel, and Ludwig and Ernest to the United States; and three younger sisters, Elizabeth "Liesel," Ilse and Lore who also came to the United States. He arrived in Philadelphia with his eldest sister, Liesel, in 1938, finding whatever work he could and later joined the Pennsylvania National Guard, which mobilized in 1940. He trained in Louisiana where, while on weekend leave, he met his future bride. He served as a German interrupter/interrogator in the Allied campaigns in North Africa, Sicily and Italy and was discharged in December 1945. He returned to Livonia and married Flora Mabel Weil, the daughter of Alphonse and Rosina Dreyfus Weil, on Jan. 27, 1946. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a master sergeant until 1952. He was an active member of Beth Shalom Synagogue in Baton Rouge and Temple Shalom in Lafayette. He and his brother-in-law, Simon Weil, were co-owners and co-mangers of the Dreyfus Department Store in Livonia that was started by Dreyfus cousins of Flora in the late 1860s and operated by Flora's Dreyfus grandparents and parents. He is survived by his wife of 57 years; a daughter,of Baton Rouge, her husband, , and their children, a son,of Lafayette, his wife,and their children,a son,of Houston, his wife, and their children, a sister, Greensboro, N.C.; a sister,of Philadelphia; a sister-in-law,of Livonia; a sister-in-law, of Tel Aviv, Israel; a brother-in-law,of Philadelphia; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was very close and devoted to family and actively communicated/visited with all known relatives regardless of how distantly located in many countries around the world. Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews, Graveside service conducted by Rabbi Stanton Zamek will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2003, at Liberal Synagogue Cemetery, 9665 Florida Blvd. The family will receive friends at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Dreyfus House, 1742 Maringouin Road West (La. 77), in Livonia. Remembrances, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the charity or place of worship of your choice.