Richard I. Stortz

Richard I. Stortz, 67, of Mt. Pleasant and formerly of Germanville, died on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at Park Place Elder Living Center, in Mt. Pleasant.

According to his wishes, cremation has been accorded and a memorial service will be held on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at 10 a.m., at Hope Lutheran Church, in rural Germanville, with Rev. Ryan Dexter officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

A memorial has been established to the Crawsfordsville First Responders in his memory. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com. Murphy Funeral Home, of Mt. Pleasant, is handling the arrangements.

Stortz was born on Nov. 30, 1948, in Fairfield, the son of Howard Irven and Bettye Ruth Ogden Stortz. He attended a one room country school through fourth grade and then went to Fairfield Schools, where he graduated in the class of 1967. Following his graduation from high school, he went to Iowa State University and graduated in 1972.

He worked as a farmer/producer for the Iowa State Research Farms for 19 years, and later worked for Goodyear, in Mt. Pleasant, for four years until retiring in 1998.

He was a member of the Hope Lutheran Church, at Germanville.

Stortz is survived by his children, Sarah (Doug) Slobodnik; Joshua Stortz; and Amanda (Shaun) Clark, all of Mt. Pleasant; three grandchildren; and two brothers, David Stortz, of Cedar Rapids; and Jim Stortz, of Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Kathy Kerkman.