Robert Kautz Obituary

Memorial services for longtime Cortez, Colo. resident Robert Larry Kautz will be held 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 6 at the Cortez First United Methodist Church.

Larry, as he was known to family and friends, was born September 30, 1935 in McGrew, Neb., the son of Conrad Kautz II and Katharine (Ramig) Kautz. He passed away at his Cortez home on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at the age of 79.

Larry spent two years in the U.S. Army followed by four years at University of Colorado at Denver, earning his degree in Civil Engineering. Larry married Fay L. Kellums in Torrington, Wyo. on June 10, 1935. They shared 55 years of marriage before Fay's death in 2013.

Larry and Fay moved to the Cortez area in the mid 1970s when Larry went to work for Nielson's Inc. At the time of Larry's retirement, he left the company as a co-owner. Always a civic minded man, Larry became involved in the Cortez community through Elks and Rotary and through his church. Within his church he was a member of United Methodist Men's Breakfast and it was his duty to cook the eggs. Larry also served one term on Cortez City Council.

Rotary Club in Cortez was responsible for planning and shooting fireworks for the Cortez area every Fourth of July and Larry was a key component to the show for more than 20 years. His hobbies also included fishing, hunting, golf, bowling, basketball, soft ball, shuffle board, and playing Bridge.

Surviving Larry are his daughter, Kathy Milligan and husband, Kip of Cortez; sons, Scot Kautz of Grand Junction and Kip Kautz and wife, Ginger, of Cortez; and foster daughter, Kelly Ayers and husband, Jerry of Cortez. Also surviving Larry are his grandchildren, Jason Cassady and wife, Jessaca of Bayfield, Colo., Kelsy Daniels and husband, Steve of Fort Worth, Tex., Robert "R.C." Kautz of Cortez, and Keve Goodall and wife, Teri of Cortez; seven great grandchildren; special foreign exchange student, Pablo Mangupli and family of Argentina; and by his siblings, Ron Kautz and wife, Marget of Torrington, Wyo., and Loraine Margheim and husband, Bill, of Denver, Colo.; and brother-in-law, Bob Brammeier of Salem, Ore. Larry was preceded in death by his wife, Fay Lavonne Kellums Kautz; parents, Katharine and Connie Kautz II; and his sister, Barbara Kautz Brammeier.

Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Larry Kautz with Hospice of Montezuma, PO Box 740, Cortez, Colo. 81321

Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. To send condolences, or to view the full obituary, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.