ELDON ROGER GIERTZ

LIBERAL- A celebration of life will be held at an undetermined date for Eldon Roger Giertz, 75, Liberal, who died Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, after suffering the burst of a brain aneurysm.

Arrangements are under the direction of Konantz Warden Funeral Home, Lamar.

Donations may be made to Peterson Outdoor Ministries, in care of the funeral home.

The obituary may be viewed and condolences sent online at www.konantzwarden.com.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Bula; a grandson, Brennon R. Kaufmann, currently serving on a US Navy submarine; a brother, David Giertz and wife Linda, Mobile, Ala.; sisters, Janet Clemens, Carl Junction and Vicky Pearce and husband Kenny, Joplin; an aunt, Arleen Hartman Bohlmann, Danforth, Ill.; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Don and Elaine White, Girard, Kan. and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Ann; his parents Eldon P and Lorraine and his son, Ethan R Giertz, who died on March 10, 2022.

Mr. Giertz was born Oct. 2, 1947, in Kankakee, Ill., to Eldon Paul and Lorraine (Hartman) Giertz. He lived for 12 years on a dairy farm and grain farm in Chebanse, Ill., where he learned to work hard at an early age. In 1959, he and his family moved to Liberal, to a grain farm where he learned all aspects of its operation.

He graduated in 1965 from Liberal High School and went to work for the George Diggs farm until joining the United States Marine Corp. After boot camp in San Diego, Calif., he was sent to mechanical structural schooling in Memphis, Tenn. He then went on to be stationed at the Beaufort, SC Air Station working on Phantom jets. In August of 1968, he married Bula White and they made their home in Beaufort, SC until he was sent overseas to Japan for nine months. After his discharge in 1970 they moved to Ft Scott, Kan., where he was employed as a mechanic for Key Industries.

He and Bula moved to the Prairie Center Farm in 1971, where they farmed together for over 20 years. When the farm sold, he obtained a job at Pittsburg State University on the landscaping crew where he remained until 2005 after receiving a knee injury. He worked from home on computers for years. The past few years his activities were gardening with 18 garden beds, doing the cooking, and working around the house and yard. He shared an interest in guns with his son Ethan.