John L. Kotz

John Leo Kotz was born April 19, 1940, in Storm Lake, Iowa, the son of John and Mary Kotz. He passed away Tuesday, September 18, 2018, at Denison Care Center in Denison, Iowa, at the age of seventy-eight.
John’s father passed away when John was thirteen years old, and he had to grow up fast and help work the family farm. He attended Catholic school in Early, Iowa, through eighth grade and received his high school education in the Schaller High School where he was involved in football, choir, and attended boys’ state. John began his employment for Pfister Seed Corn Company. He then worked at Denison IBP packing plant, lugging beef, completing his working career in the trucking industry – hauling furniture for Allied Van Lines and driving truck for Ross Moeller, Viking Ship, Roger Claussen, and Farmland.
In January of 1959, John was united in marriage to Rosalie Adams, and in 1970 he was married to Zita Tigges. He enjoyed socializing and dancing. He had a passion for raising and riding horses, watching Westerns, country music, attending county fairs and the National Western Stock Show in Denver with his brother Gene, camping in the region, and fishing in Canada.
John was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Janet; and his brother, Eugene. Survivors include: his wife, Zita; ten children: Julie and her husband, Chuck; Kelly and her husband, Kevin; Keri; Kathy and her husband, Kevin; John and his wife, Ann; Robert and his wife, Elizabeth; James; Brenda and her husband, Chris; Michael and his wife, Sarah; and Matthew and his wife, Amy; twenty-two grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; two sisters, Catherine and her husband, George; and Patricia and her husband, Charles; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.