Carl Kirtz - Obituary

arl Joseph Kirtz Carl Joseph Kirtz, 87, a 5 year resident of Annapolis, MD, previously of Monterey and Carmel, CA (28 years), and Mt. Morris, IL (28 years), died August 14, at Heritage Harbour Health & Rehab. Center, Annapolis, MD, of heart failure. Born November 16, 1920 in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Joseph F. and Theresa Kirtz, he served in the Army Air Corps during WW II, where he was a flying instructor. He was employed as a rotogravure color photographer from 1938-1974, for Kable Printing Co. in Mt. Morris, IL. In 1975 he owned and operated Silk Screen Print Shop in Salinas, CA until 1977. In 1977, he worked as a silkscreen printer at Couroc of Monterey until 1984. Carl developed apprenticeship/training programs for rotogravure processing employees at Kable Printing Company, and created innovative printing processes for which he received financial awards. Carl applied for a patent for the use of a laser radiation process for making printing plates. He also founded Great Books Discussions group in Mt. Morris, IL. His memberships included being director of the library board in Mt. Morris; president, VP and delegate of the Graphic Arts International Union local in Mt. Morris; past master of the Masonic Lodge in Mt. Morris; served various offices in the Mt. Morris Chamber of Commerce and Community Chest; member of Methodist Men's Group; officer of in the Mt. Morris P.T.A. and Curriculum Study Committee for Mt. Morris Schools; Democratic Precinct Committeeman, member of Ogle County, IL; Young Democrats, organizer, president and delegate to State convention, Democratic Senatorial Committeeman; president of resident group for Pacific Meadows retirement home. His hobbies included raising orchids, silk screen printing, ceramics, classical music, learning languages (Spanish, German, Hungarian), reading, swimming, scuba diving, playing tennis, golfing, running, making videos, travelling to Mexico, Costa Rica, Cayman, Bahamas, Guatemala and Jamaica; he was a life long Chicago Bears fan. Beloved husband of the late Nadine Kirtz, whom he married July 17, 1946 and died June 30, 2005;father of Carline K. Haga of Edgewater, MD; brother of Shirley Roberts of Flower Mound, TX; grandfather of Chelsea Fallon of Arlington, VA; great grandfather of Jack Lu Xin Fallon of Arlington, VA. Arrangements by the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD. Services and interment private. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Half the Sky, www.halfthesky.org or Grace and Hope for Children, www.grace-hope.org. Please sign the guestbook at www.kalasfuneralhomes.com.