Steve Portz

      Steve Portz, 51 years old, of Remsen, IA died Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, IA.
      Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 4, 2012, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen with Rev. William McCarthy, Deacon Ray Portz & Deacon Rick Roder officiating.  Burial will be in the Remsen Community Cemetery in Remsen.  Visitation will be anytime after 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, 2012.  There will be a parish rosary at 3 p.m. and a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m., all at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.
      Steve was born on Nov. 20, 1960, the son of Orville & Joan (Ahlers) Portz.  He was raised and educated in Remsen.  He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1979. Steve acquired many certifications as a machinist, fabricator and welder.
      On July 12, 1980, he married Tammy Maass at Remsen.  Steve operated Remsen Mfg. & Repair for many years.  He thoroughly enjoyed fabricating items such as the steeple crosses for St. Mary’s Church and Christ Lutheran Church in Remsen.  Later, he was employed by Advance Pierre Foods in Orange City, IA and most recently by Den Hartog industries, Inc. in Hospers, IA.  He appreciated the camaraderie of his co-workers.
      Steve was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  He enjoyed singing in T.H.E.E. Choir in the past.  He was an avid fisherman and loved spending his free time in Northern Minnesota.  He also enjoyed hunting, gardening, and grilling.  He will forever be remembered for his outgoing fun-loving and caring personality.
      Survivors include: his wife of almost 32 years Tammy; his father Orville Portz; two sisters, Karen Wolf and her husband Maynard all of Remsen, and their children, Ryan & Vanessa; Laurie Bates and her husband Chris of Clive, IA and their children, Brandon & Matthew; one brother, Randy and his wife Karen of Remsen and their children, Danika, Andrew, Allison & Brady.  His in-laws, Kenneth and Bethene Maass of Remsen;  two sisters-in-law, Lori Ruba and her husband Jim Jr. of Granville, IA and their children, Nathan, Natalie, Gretchen & Ella; Stacie Maass of Alexandria, VA; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
      Preceded in death by, his mother; his grandparent’s, Andrew & Angela Ahlers & Raymond & Clarinda Portz; an infant niece, Marissa Wolf; his grandparent’s in-law, John & Ella Maass & Forrest & Mildred Nairn.
      Casket bearers will be his nephews, Ryan Wolf, Andrew Portz, Brandon Bates, Nathan Ruba, Matthew Bates, Brady Portz, and his godsons, Michael & Brian Niehus, Nicholas Carlson.
      Honorary Bearers will be his nieces, Danika Portz, Vanessa Wolf, Allison Portz, Natalie, Gretchen & Ella Ruba.