Full Obituary

     ARNOLD A. "ARNE" WIRTZ, age 82, of Loyal, WI, peacefully passed away at his home on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 surrounded by his loving family.  A Celebration of Arne's Life will be held at the Loyal Westside Park on Saturday, June 27, 2020 from 11am until 3pm, with a short memorial service at 1pm.  A light lunch, water & lemonade will be provided.  Per Arne’s wishes, no alcohol is permitted.
     Arnold Arthur Wirtz was born on June 8, 1937 in Waukegan, IL, to William C. and Alice M. (Ritta) Wirtz.  He was raised on his family's farm near Volo, IL.  He received his education in the Volo area, and graduated from Wauconda High School, in Wauconda, IL, in 1955.  He was united in marriage to Sharon L. Hertel on June 28, 1958 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fremont Center, IL.  They farmed until 1959, when Arne began working for and operating his cousin Arthur Wirtz' country estate, who was the owner of the NHL Chicago Blackhawks hockey team.  His wife, Sharon, died on September 27, 1972.  Arne married Ruth A. Motion on February 14, 1974 at the Ivanhoe Congregational Church in Ivanhoe, IL.  He continued working for his cousin until 1979, when they purchased a farm southwest of Loyal, WI.  They farmed until 2000, at which time they sold the farm and moved into Loyal.  Arne resided in Loyal until the time of his death.
     He was a member of the York Center United Methodist Church, the Loyal FFA Alumni, and was a past president of the Illinois Yorkshire Association.
     Arne had many interests, but especially loved spending time with his family and friends, farming, bowling, pitching horseshoes, playing softball and was very involved with high school FFA and 4-H.
     He will be dearly missed by his wife, Ruth, of Loyal; 2 daughters: Valerie Cook of Waukegan, IL and Sharon Lee Geldernick of Dorchester, WI; one son: Kenneth (Sharon) Wirtz of Kenosha, WI; his step-children: Ron (Tammi) Motion of Loyal, WI and Lenora "Lin" (Joe) Mueller of Colby, WI; one son-in-law: Charles Wolford of Albuquerque, NM; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one brother: Jack (Lilly) Wirtz of Hanover, IL;  one sister-in-law: Audrey Wirtz of Lena, IL; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
     Arne was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Sharon; 2 daughters: Barbara Jean Wirtz, in infancy, on December 2, 1964 and Julie Wolford on February 17, 2020; one brother: Marvin Wirtz; one sister: Marion Brown; and one brother-in-law: Phil Brown.