Joseph S. Kirtz, 85, of Adams, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, at the Adams Health Care Center in Adams.

Joseph Sylvester was born Aug. 25, 1933, in Lodi Township, Mower County, Minnesota, to Alfonse and Margaret (Kasel) Kirtz. Joe graduated from Adams High School with the Class of 1951. He entered military service toward the end of the Korean War, serving some of his tour of duty in Germany. Following his honorable discharge, he returned home to the family farm near Adams. On Oct. 21, 1961, he was united in marriage to Edna Mary Bundy at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Winona, Minnesota. Joe was a lifelong farmer, and he and Edna raised their family on their Lodi Township farm near Adams. Even after slowing down a bit, he continued to enjoy farming with his son John.

Joe enjoyed collecting toy tractors, fishing, working with wood, working on the farm, and spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Adams, third degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and longtime member of Adams American Legion Post 146. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his loving wife, Edna; children, Margaret (Ray) Mullenbach of Adams, John (Kristie) Kirtz of Adams, David (Bonnie) Kirtz of Adams, Joanne (Brian) Koenigs of Stacyville, Iowa, and Paul (Cairene Greenlee) Kirtz of Adams; siblings, Jerome (Marlene) Kirtz of Adams, Regina Bottema of Rose Creek, Minnesota, and Dorothy Peterson of Albert Lea, Minnesota; sisters-in-law, Betty Kirtz of Adams and Kay Kirtz of the Twin Cities; grandchildren, April (Brian) Helle, Emily (Shane) Bunne, Henry Mullenbach, Megan Mullenbach (Collin Jacobson), Benjamin Kirtz, Coty Kirtz, Kaitlyn Kirtz, McKenzie Kirtz, Logan Kirtz, Jacob Koenigs, Adam Koenigs, Jackson Koenigs, Auna Koenigs, Kassidy Kirtz, Isiah Morse and Kaytlen Greenlee; and great-grandchildren, Brody, Justin, Lara, and Luke Helle and Natalie, Allie, Noah, and Adam Bunne.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfonse and Margaret Kirtz; stepmother, Helena Kirtz; brothers, Fred Kirtz and Ray Kirtz; and infant twin brother, John Kirtz.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Adams with Father Martin Schaefer officiating. Interment with military honors will follow the service in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2-6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Monday at the Adams Funeral Home.  There will be a 2 p.m. Rosary Sunday afternoon at the Adams Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Sacred Heart Catholic School in Adams in Joe’s memory.