Donald Jacob Ertz

October 1, 1935 - February 1, 2012 Donald Jacob Ertz, age 76, of South Beloit, IL, died Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, at Beloit Memorial Hospital, Beloit, WI, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on Oct. 1, 1935, in Ipswich, SD, the son of George and Eva (Brossart) Ertz. Don married Carol Joyce Garske on Feb. 15, 1958, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Janesville. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1958 to 1961. Don worked as a materials handler at General Motors for 32 years, retiring in 1988. He was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Beloit, a former member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Janesville, the Senior Center at Grinnell Hall in Beloit, and UAW Local 95 Retirees. He loved his family, traveling, fishing, NASCAR, playing cards and horseshoes, and the Green Bay Packers. Survivors include his wife, Carol of South Beloit; three sons: Gary Ertz of Henderson, NV, Robert (Lorreta) Ertz of Potosi, WI, and John (Dawn) Ertz of Gilbert, AZ; three daughters: Diane (Bob) Hinkel of Janesville, WI, Nancy (Roger) Sarow of Columbia City, IN, and Teenie (Dennis Huber) Ertz of Columbia City, IN; 17 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; his sister, Georgene (Al) Dabbert of Aberdeen, SD; his sisters-in-law: Sylvia Ertz, Nancy (Ray) Thompson, Betty Klukas, and Carol (Marv) Larson; his special friend, Dewayne "Homer" (Hazel) Holm; and the many special friends Don and Carol met in their travels. Donald was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Duane; his in-laws, Joseph and Alma (Butler) Garske; and his brothers-in-law, Bernard Garske and Don Klukas. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, at ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC CHURCH, 315 Cherry St., Janesville, with Fr. James Kuhn presiding. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the services on Saturday at the CHURCH. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Janesville. If you wish to give a memorial in Don’s name, please consider giving blood to your local blood bank. Brian Hansen Funeral Service, Janesville, 608-752-8800, is assisting the family. "Thank you to Dr. Vogel, nurses Tammy, Robin and Velinda, and the staff of the Special Care Unit at Beloit Memorial Hospital, for the attentive care."