William Raymond Bartz Obituary
Bill was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He married Suzette "Suzie" Eckardt in 1954 and in 1959, he moved his family to Phoenix, AZ, where he began studying electronics. Bill was still in school in 1965 when IBM recruited him as a technician for their San Jose facility, and the family moved again. In 1975, Bill received one of IBM’s highest honors, an Outstanding Invention Award for developing a large-volume printer component.
After retiring early from IBM, Bill started his own business designing and manufacturing tools for woodworkers. He obtained patents for these tools and other devices he invented. He was a lifelong tinkerer and a skilled craftsman who remodeled his own homes and built a cabin at Lake Tahoe. When something needed fixing, Bill was the guy to call. He was happy to help numerous friends and relatives with their home and auto projects.
His other pastimes included bowling, golfing, tennis, camping, and rebuilding old cars. Bill volunteered with the San Jose Parks Department to repair and replace tennis nets throughout the city. He was President of both his bowling and golfing groups for many years and was also involved with the IBM Retiree Summer BBQ and their Holiday dinner/dance. He enjoyed numerous trips to Wisconsin to visit extended family. A bad heart finally slowed him down.
Bill is survived by daughter Lynn Bartz of San Jose; son Andy Bartz and his wife Julie of Loveland, CO; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild; sister Marilyn Brachmann and brother Ron Bartz of Wisconsin; and numerous other relatives.
He is preceded in death by daughter Vicki Bartz and granddaughter Shannon Bartz (Lynn’s daughter), who died together in a tragic car accident in 1981; granddaughter Christina DeBoard (Vicki’s infant daughter); and the mother of his children, Suzie. He is also preceded in death by three brothers, Walter and Kenneth Bartz of Wisconsin, and Elmer Bartz of Missouri.
Bill has donated a large portion of his estate to charities, including the Ventana Wildlife Society's California condor restoration program.
Thanks for everything, Dad. You will be missed.
