Lyola A. Girtz

LYOLA A. GIRTZ March 16, 1925 – August 11, 2016         Lyola A. Girtz, age 91, a long time Park Rapids, MN area resident and formerly of Pierz, MN, peacefully passed into eternal life on Thursday evening, August 11, 2016 at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Park Rapids surrounded by her loved ones.       Lyola was born on March 16, 1925 in Pierz, MN to Casper and Mary (Hoffman) Meyer.  She attended country school near her parent’s farm where she grew into womanhood.  She was united in marriage to Herbert Peter Girtz on May 4, 1943 at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz in a double ring ceremony with her brother and her husband’s sister.  Their marriage was blessed with two daughters and nine sons.  The young couple engaged in dairy farming near Pierz where Lyola devoted herself to making a warm and loving home for her husband and children.  She was a wonderful cook and baker who will be long remembered for her delicious homemade meals.  In 1966, they sold their dairy farm and ventured north to Osage, MN where they purchased the Breezy Point Resort on beautiful Straight Lake.  In 1967, Herbert was tragically killed in a deer hunting accident at the young age of 49, leaving Lyola alone to raise her family and run their resort.  In 1973, she sold the resort and moved to Park Rapids where she gained employment working as a cook in the Park Rapids Middle School.  She retired in 1982 and was able to spend more time enjoying her love of fishing.  Whether out on the pontoon or out on the ice with her family, Lyola loved to fish.  She enjoyed having all her family come each fall at deer hunting season and turned her home into deer camp.  She loved making memories with her children and grandchildren who feasted on her great cooking.  Lyola also looked forward each year to Christmas when she would host a large Christmas eve gathering for her family and Santa would always make an appearance.  Lyola was a woman of faith who was a long time member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids.  In addition she was a member of the Catholic Foresters and the Christian Mothers.  Lyola loved to travel and had spent numerous winters in Utah visiting with her daughter, Mary Kay and her “farkle” family.  She had especially enjoyed traveling throughout the US especially to Alaska and Branson, MO.       Lyola will be lovingly remembered by her eleven children:  Jim (Pamela) Girtz of Green Bay, WI., Jerry (Brenda) Girtz of Pierz, MN Harvey (Wilma) Girtz of Park Rapids, Mary Kay (Judd) Pippy of St. George,Utah, Ronald (Judy) Girtz of Park Rapids, Marvin (Mary) Girtz of Park Rapids, Gene Girtz of Park Rapids, Herb Girtz Jr., of Plymouth, MN, Delroy Girtz of Osage, Jolene (Tom) Pick of Moundsview, MN and Peter (Bobbi) Girtz of Rapid City, SD; 34 grandchildren; 73 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; as well as many other relatives and friends.       She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert; two brothers: Ervin and Edmund and a sister, Clarita Urai.       A Funeral Mass of Chrisitian Burial will be held at 12 Noon Monday, August 15, 2016 at the St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids with Father Thomas Friedl officiating.  The active casket bearers will be Lyola’s nine sons and her honorary casket bearers will be her two daughters.  Visitation will be from 5 PM to 8 PM on Sunday, August 14 with a prayer service to be held at 7 PM.  Visitation will continue beginning one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church.  Following the service, a luncheon will be hosted by the St. Peter The Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids.        A Grave Side Service and Interment will be at 11:00 AM Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Pierz, MN with Father Ken Popp officiating. A Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM, at the church prior to the service.  To leave on line condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.jonespearson.com