Hoffmann-Schneider Funeral Homes
Merlin J. "Bud" Portz, 83, of Dubuque, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 at The Finley Hospital, surrounded by his family.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, with Rev. Gabriel Anderson officiating and Rev. Phillip Kruse concelebrating. Interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery with military honors by Dubuque Marine Corp League. Friends may call from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Columbkille Catholic Church. Hoffmann-Schneider Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 1640 Main St., is in charge of arrangements.
Merlin was born on Nov. 26, 1927, in Springbrook, Iowa, son of John R. and Appalonia (Sturm) Portz. He married Madonna Clare Bousselot June 11, 1955 at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Welton, Iowa.
He graduated from St. Joseph High School, Bellevue, Iowa in 1945.
He served in the Merchant Marine 1945 – 1947 in the Atlantic and Pacific. He served in the Air Force in Hawaii 1950 – 1952 and served in the Army in Germany 1952 – 1954.
He was a former salesman for CARADCO in Dubuque 1954-1958. He then joined New York Life Insurance as a sales representative 1958-1990.
He served as President of Career Conference of New York Life Insurance Company in 1959. He served two years as President of Dubuque Association of Life Underwriters. He served on New York Life Agents Advisory Council in New York City in 1972 and was a Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table for New York Life Insurance Company.
He was a member of St. Columbkille parish and was speaker for the Sacrificial Giving Program for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. He also served on numerous drives for various charitable organizations. He was a past member of the Wahlert High School Board and Holy Ghost Parish Council and Holy Ghost Finance Committee. He also was a member of the Dubuque Serra Club for over 40 years.
Surviving are his wife, Madonna, four daughters, Joan (Kevin) Hedrick, of Dubuque, Patty (Denny) Richter, of Clinton, Iowa, Jacqueline (Ron) Grothe, of Richfield, Minn., and Mary (Bill) Mormann, of Farley, Iowa; one son, John R. (Lisa) Portz, of Dubuque; seven grandchildren, Klayton Renne, Joshua (Kera) Renne, Jacob Renne, Maria Mormann, Melissa (Jon) Darsow, Ron "Woody" Grothe Jr., and Mark Portz; one soon to be great grandson in December; one sister, Imelda (Norbert) Sherman, of East Dubuque, Ill.; and one sister-in-law, Marge Portz, of Bellevue.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Nick Portz; two sisters, Sylvia (Ray) Coffey and Bernida (William) Frye Sr. and four brothers, Cyril (Opal) Portz, Norman (Freida) Portz, Delbert (Ethel) Portz and Earl Portz.
Merlin J. "Bud" Portz, 83, of Dubuque, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 at The Finley Hospital, surrounded by his family.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, with Rev. Gabriel Anderson officiating and Rev. Phillip Kruse concelebrating. Interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery with military honors by Dubuque Marine Corp League. Friends may call from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Columbkille Catholic Church. Hoffmann-Schneider Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 1640 Main St., is in charge of arrangements.
Merlin was born on Nov. 26, 1927, in Springbrook, Iowa, son of John R. and Appalonia (Sturm) Portz. He married Madonna Clare Bousselot June 11, 1955 at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Welton, Iowa.
He graduated from St. Joseph High School, Bellevue, Iowa in 1945.
He served in the Merchant Marine 1945 – 1947 in the Atlantic and Pacific. He served in the Air Force in Hawaii 1950 – 1952 and served in the Army in Germany 1952 – 1954.
He was a former salesman for CARADCO in Dubuque 1954-1958. He then joined New York Life Insurance as a sales representative 1958-1990.
He served as President of Career Conference of New York Life Insurance Company in 1959. He served two years as President of Dubuque Association of Life Underwriters. He served on New York Life Agents Advisory Council in New York City in 1972 and was a Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table for New York Life Insurance Company.
He was a member of St. Columbkille parish and was speaker for the Sacrificial Giving Program for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. He also served on numerous drives for various charitable organizations. He was a past member of the Wahlert High School Board and Holy Ghost Parish Council and Holy Ghost Finance Committee. He also was a member of the Dubuque Serra Club for over 40 years.
Surviving are his wife, Madonna, four daughters, Joan (Kevin) Hedrick, of Dubuque, Patty (Denny) Richter, of Clinton, Iowa, Jacqueline (Ron) Grothe, of Richfield, Minn., and Mary (Bill) Mormann, of Farley, Iowa; one son, John R. (Lisa) Portz, of Dubuque; seven grandchildren, Klayton Renne, Joshua (Kera) Renne, Jacob Renne, Maria Mormann, Melissa (Jon) Darsow, Ron "Woody" Grothe Jr., and Mark Portz; one soon to be great grandson in December; one sister, Imelda (Norbert) Sherman, of East Dubuque, Ill.; and one sister-in-law, Marge Portz, of Bellevue.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Nick Portz; two sisters, Sylvia (Ray) Coffey and Bernida (William) Frye Sr. and four brothers, Cyril (Opal) Portz, Norman (Freida) Portz, Delbert (Ethel) Portz and Earl Portz.
Hoffmann-Schneider Funeral Homes
Merlin J. "Bud" Portz, 83, of Dubuque, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 at The Finley Hospital, surrounded by his family.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, with Rev. Gabriel Anderson officiating and Rev. Phillip Kruse concelebrating. Interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery with military honors by Dubuque Marine Corp League. Friends may call from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Columbkille Catholic Church. Hoffmann-Schneider Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 1640 Main St., is in charge of arrangements.
Merlin was born on Nov. 26, 1927, in Springbrook, Iowa, son of John R. and Appalonia (Sturm) Portz. He married Madonna Clare Bousselot June 11, 1955 at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Welton, Iowa.
He graduated from St. Joseph High School, Bellevue, Iowa in 1945.
He served in the Merchant Marine 1945 – 1947 in the Atlantic and Pacific. He served in the Air Force in Hawaii 1950 – 1952 and served in the Army in Germany 1952 – 1954.
He was a former salesman for CARADCO in Dubuque 1954-1958. He then joined New York Life Insurance as a sales representative 1958-1990.
He served as President of Career Conference of New York Life Insurance Company in 1959. He served two years as President of Dubuque Association of Life Underwriters. He served on New York Life Agents Advisory Council in New York City in 1972 and was a Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table for New York Life Insurance Company.
He was a member of St. Columbkille parish and was speaker for the Sacrificial Giving Program for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. He also served on numerous drives for various charitable organizations. He was a past member of the Wahlert High School Board and Holy Ghost Parish Council and Holy Ghost Finance Committee. He also was a member of the Dubuque Serra Club for over 40 years.
Surviving are his wife, Madonna, four daughters, Joan (Kevin) Hedrick, of Dubuque, Patty (Denny) Richter, of Clinton, Iowa, Jacqueline (Ron) Grothe, of Richfield, Minn., and Mary (Bill) Mormann, of Farley, Iowa; one son, John R. (Lisa) Portz, of Dubuque; seven grandchildren, Klayton Renne, Joshua (Kera) Renne, Jacob Renne, Maria Mormann, Melissa (Jon) Darsow, Ron "Woody" Grothe Jr., and Mark Portz; one soon to be great grandson in December; one sister, Imelda (Norbert) Sherman, of East Dubuque, Ill.; and one sister-in-law, Marge Portz, of Bellevue.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Nick Portz; two sisters, Sylvia (Ray) Coffey and Bernida (William) Frye Sr. and four brothers, Cyril (Opal) Portz, Norman (Freida) Portz, Delbert (Ethel) Portz and Earl Portz.
Merlin J. "Bud" Portz, 83, of Dubuque, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 at The Finley Hospital, surrounded by his family.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, with Rev. Gabriel Anderson officiating and Rev. Phillip Kruse concelebrating. Interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery with military honors by Dubuque Marine Corp League. Friends may call from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Columbkille Catholic Church. Hoffmann-Schneider Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 1640 Main St., is in charge of arrangements.
Merlin was born on Nov. 26, 1927, in Springbrook, Iowa, son of John R. and Appalonia (Sturm) Portz. He married Madonna Clare Bousselot June 11, 1955 at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Welton, Iowa.
He graduated from St. Joseph High School, Bellevue, Iowa in 1945.
He served in the Merchant Marine 1945 – 1947 in the Atlantic and Pacific. He served in the Air Force in Hawaii 1950 – 1952 and served in the Army in Germany 1952 – 1954.
He was a former salesman for CARADCO in Dubuque 1954-1958. He then joined New York Life Insurance as a sales representative 1958-1990.
He served as President of Career Conference of New York Life Insurance Company in 1959. He served two years as President of Dubuque Association of Life Underwriters. He served on New York Life Agents Advisory Council in New York City in 1972 and was a Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table for New York Life Insurance Company.
He was a member of St. Columbkille parish and was speaker for the Sacrificial Giving Program for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. He also served on numerous drives for various charitable organizations. He was a past member of the Wahlert High School Board and Holy Ghost Parish Council and Holy Ghost Finance Committee. He also was a member of the Dubuque Serra Club for over 40 years.
Surviving are his wife, Madonna, four daughters, Joan (Kevin) Hedrick, of Dubuque, Patty (Denny) Richter, of Clinton, Iowa, Jacqueline (Ron) Grothe, of Richfield, Minn., and Mary (Bill) Mormann, of Farley, Iowa; one son, John R. (Lisa) Portz, of Dubuque; seven grandchildren, Klayton Renne, Joshua (Kera) Renne, Jacob Renne, Maria Mormann, Melissa (Jon) Darsow, Ron "Woody" Grothe Jr., and Mark Portz; one soon to be great grandson in December; one sister, Imelda (Norbert) Sherman, of East Dubuque, Ill.; and one sister-in-law, Marge Portz, of Bellevue.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Nick Portz; two sisters, Sylvia (Ray) Coffey and Bernida (William) Frye Sr. and four brothers, Cyril (Opal) Portz, Norman (Freida) Portz, Delbert (Ethel) Portz and Earl Portz.
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