Share John Sturtz's obituary with others.
Invite friends and family to read the obituary and add memories.
Stay updated
We'll notify you when service details or new memories are added.
You're now following this obituary
We'll email you when there are updates.
Select your format and elements to print
IN LOVING MEMORY OF John Sturtz
John
Sturtz
d. Sep 9, 2018
John Sturtz's Obituary
John Prescott Sturtz was born in 1933 in Albert Lea MN where he lived until he graduated from high school in 1951. He was the son of Gladys and William P. Sturtz and the brother of Alice (Sturtz) Kuehl and William R. Sturtz. While growing up he made the first of many canoe trips to the Boundary Waters in northern MN with his local Boy Scout troop. He later had the opportunity to share his love of the canoe country with his wife and children. In school not only was he valedictorian of his class but he was active in a number of vocal and instrumental groups including a junior high group called the "Korn Kobs" which performed on the Arthur Godfrey Show.
He began his college education at Grinnell College where he met his future wife, Bonnie Watters. They both transferred to the University of Minnesota and were married shortly after their graduation in 1955. In 1957, after he earned his Master of Science in Engineering at the U of M, he accepted an engineering position with the General Electric Co. which began a thirty-five-year career, primarily as a nuclear engineer. He received seven patents on his work and some items he developed traveled to the moon. During his working career they lived in six different states from coast to coast. Because they both loved to travel this gave them the opportunity to explore parts of all fifty states during this time. They became the parents of four children, Donald Prescott Sturtz, Linda Lee Sturtz, Ann Marie Sturtz (Viksnins) and Kenneth William Sturtz and five grandchildren, Krista Viksnins, Laura Viksnins, John Allyn Sturtz, Kira Sturtz, and Ian William Sturtz. Two daughters-in-law Kellie Sturtz and Traci Sturtz plus two sons-in-law James Robertson and Ansis Viksnins completed their family circle. Unfortunately, Traci preceded John in death.
John was a talented wood-worker and he designed and built many projects, both utilitarian and artistic. Many hours were spent with his grandson, John, as they designed and constructed his Eagle Scout project. He always had a "waiting list" of projects that his family had requested. He wrote several novels and had ideas and notes for others. He sang with the Berkshire Choral Festival in both Santa Fe and Mass., the San Jose Symphony Chorus, Akron Symphony Chorus, West Valley (California) Masterworks Choral, and Green Valley Community Chorus. On tours with these groups he sang in St. Marks in Venice, Italy, St. Peters in the Vatican, and Notre Dame in Paris, among others. He also sang in Barbershop Choruses where ever he was living. He also enjoyed singing for many years with the Tubac Singers and participating in the choir at the Tumacocuri Mission for reenactments and on Christmas Eve. An accomplished saxophonist, in Green Valley he was a twenty-year participant and former board member of Green Valley Concert Band and played for many years with the Bavarian Brass Band. He considered riding his bicycle and swimming to be among his most enjoyable forms of relaxation. In the summer at the family cabin in Truckee, CA, he would often ride his bike around Donner Lake while his son, Kenn ran next to him. He maintained his love of canoeing at Donner Lake but vastly preferred paddling stern rather than bow. When time permitted he enjoyed playing bridge.
John was currently a member of Desert Hills Lutheran Church and an active participant in the church's Handy Man group, woodworking group, Bookmen, Celebration Singers Choir, and Men's Choir. Previously he also sang with the Chancel Choir. In past churches he had been an active Stephen Minister and adult leader with several high school youth groups on Appalachian Service Projects. Far a number of years he was a weight room monitor for GVR (Green Valley Recreation). He served frequently as a volunteer driver for Valley Assistance Services and spent the last day of his life in service to others.
After retirement John and Bonnie continued their love of travel and visited many foreign countries and all seven continents (including Antarctica) They had the distinction of having been within 300 miles of the North Pole and on a small passenger ship when it traveled the farthest south in Antarctica. As a life long Christian, he also had his final trip reservation made well in advance.
A contribution in John's memory may be made to The Friends of the Boundary Waters at: www.friends-bwca.org/support and adding John Sturtz in the "in memory of" field or to Desert Hills Lutheran Church, Green Valley, AZ 85622.
He began his college education at Grinnell College where he met his future wife, Bonnie Watters. They both transferred to the University of Minnesota and were married shortly after their graduation in 1955. In 1957, after he earned his Master of Science in Engineering at the U of M, he accepted an engineering position with the General Electric Co. which began a thirty-five-year career, primarily as a nuclear engineer. He received seven patents on his work and some items he developed traveled to the moon. During his working career they lived in six different states from coast to coast. Because they both loved to travel this gave them the opportunity to explore parts of all fifty states during this time. They became the parents of four children, Donald Prescott Sturtz, Linda Lee Sturtz, Ann Marie Sturtz (Viksnins) and Kenneth William Sturtz and five grandchildren, Krista Viksnins, Laura Viksnins, John Allyn Sturtz, Kira Sturtz, and Ian William Sturtz. Two daughters-in-law Kellie Sturtz and Traci Sturtz plus two sons-in-law James Robertson and Ansis Viksnins completed their family circle. Unfortunately, Traci preceded John in death.
John was a talented wood-worker and he designed and built many projects, both utilitarian and artistic. Many hours were spent with his grandson, John, as they designed and constructed his Eagle Scout project. He always had a "waiting list" of projects that his family had requested. He wrote several novels and had ideas and notes for others. He sang with the Berkshire Choral Festival in both Santa Fe and Mass., the San Jose Symphony Chorus, Akron Symphony Chorus, West Valley (California) Masterworks Choral, and Green Valley Community Chorus. On tours with these groups he sang in St. Marks in Venice, Italy, St. Peters in the Vatican, and Notre Dame in Paris, among others. He also sang in Barbershop Choruses where ever he was living. He also enjoyed singing for many years with the Tubac Singers and participating in the choir at the Tumacocuri Mission for reenactments and on Christmas Eve. An accomplished saxophonist, in Green Valley he was a twenty-year participant and former board member of Green Valley Concert Band and played for many years with the Bavarian Brass Band. He considered riding his bicycle and swimming to be among his most enjoyable forms of relaxation. In the summer at the family cabin in Truckee, CA, he would often ride his bike around Donner Lake while his son, Kenn ran next to him. He maintained his love of canoeing at Donner Lake but vastly preferred paddling stern rather than bow. When time permitted he enjoyed playing bridge.
John was currently a member of Desert Hills Lutheran Church and an active participant in the church's Handy Man group, woodworking group, Bookmen, Celebration Singers Choir, and Men's Choir. Previously he also sang with the Chancel Choir. In past churches he had been an active Stephen Minister and adult leader with several high school youth groups on Appalachian Service Projects. Far a number of years he was a weight room monitor for GVR (Green Valley Recreation). He served frequently as a volunteer driver for Valley Assistance Services and spent the last day of his life in service to others.
After retirement John and Bonnie continued their love of travel and visited many foreign countries and all seven continents (including Antarctica) They had the distinction of having been within 300 miles of the North Pole and on a small passenger ship when it traveled the farthest south in Antarctica. As a life long Christian, he also had his final trip reservation made well in advance.
A contribution in John's memory may be made to The Friends of the Boundary Waters at: www.friends-bwca.org/support and adding John Sturtz in the "in memory of" field or to Desert Hills Lutheran Church, Green Valley, AZ 85622.
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
Funeral Services for John Sturtz
Desert Hills Lutheran Church
September
30
Sunday
Desert Hills Lutheran Church
Starts at 2:00 pm
John Sturtz's Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors