Francis A. Wortmann
HARTINGTON — Francis A. Wortmann, 95, Hartington, died April 26, 2020, at the Arbor Care Center, Hartington.
There will be a private visitation for the family, followed by the public viewing without family present, May 9, at the church, from 8-9:15 a.m.
Private Family Mass of Christian Burial will be May 9, at 10:30 a.m., at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Hartington, with the Rev. Owen Korte officiating. Services will also be live-streamed and can be viewed by going to https://www.facebook.com/WintzRay/live/
Burial will be at the St. Michael’s Cemetery, Hartington, with military rites by the Hartington VFW Post #5283.
Pallbearers will be his six sons, Charles, Anthony, Ronald, Frederick, Joseph and Randall Wortmann.
Honorary pallbearers will be Francis’ grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington.
Francis Alphonse Wortmann was born Oct. 10, 1924, to Anton and Mary (Schnuettgen) Wortmann on the family farm. This was his home for 63 years. He was baptized, made his First Holy Communion, and was confirmed at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Bow Valley. He attended Bunker Hill school for eight years. After school, he started to work on the family farm and took over management at the age of 22 when his father died. Francis served in the Army for one year, serving in the Philippines and Korea. He married Irene Klug June 23, 1948. They lived on the farm for 40 years and moved into their new home in Hartington May 21, 1988.
Francis served as a Parish Trustee, was on the East Catholic School Board, the Parish Council, and the Cedar Catholic School Board. He was also a lector and an EME for the Bow Valley Parish. Francis was a 70-year member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, a 4-H leader and was on the Bunker Hill School Board. He was a member of the National Farmers Organization and the Center of Rural Affairs. He was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and the Hartington VFW Post #5283.
Francis loved farming, gardening, woodworking and volunteering for the Senior Center. He enjoyed socializing, and playing cards and games. He held a Holy Hour of Adoration and was a rosary leader. He was also the rain reporter in Hartington for the Norfolk Daily News.
Francis is survived by his wife, Irene; 10 children, Charles (Tina) Wortmann, Lincoln; Anthony (Mary) Wortmann, Stanton; Ronald (Danette) Wortmann, Hartington; Sharon (Perry) Klein, Hot Springs, S.D.; Charlotte (David) Reifert, Norfolk; Frederick Wortmann, Norfolk; Geralda (Richard) Heikes, Hartington; Joseph (Sue) Wortmann, Raymond; Susan (Dan) Thomas, Council Bluffs, Iowa; Randall (Marla) Wortmann, Hartington; son-in-law, Glen Kreikemeier, Dodge; daughter-in-law, Carol Wortmann, Naples Fla.; 36 grandchildren and 52 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Anna Wortmann , Hartington; Millie Sternhagen, Tabor, S.D.; Yvonne Klug, Norfolk; and Doris Klug, St. Helena; and many nieces and nephews.
Francis was preceded in death by his parents; a son, David; a daughter, Rose Kreikemeier; a daughter-in-law, Connie Wortmann; brothers, Rudolph Wortmann, Msgr. Edgar Wortmann, August Wortmann; and sisters, Elvira Kathol, Theodora Wuebben, Eleanor Pinkelman and Josephine Olinger.