Obituaries

Samuel Kootaka, 77, of Suring, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, at The Bay at Suring Nursing Home. Sam was born March 17, 1942, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to the late Samuel and Martha (Simeona) Takata. He grew up in the Hilo area of the Big Island of Hawaii. Sam graduated from Hilo High School. In 1962, Sam became a Merchant Marine working as a fireman-water tender aboard the U.S.N.S. Longview, which was mapping islands in the Pacific Ocean. Sam also served his country in the United States Army for two years as a medical corpsman stationed at a clinic in Thailand.

Norma M. Jones Lutzke, 94, Two Rivers, formerly of Reedsville and Oconto Falls, was called peacefully to her heavenly home on Tuesday morning, Jan. 14, 2020, at her residence. She was born Jan. 3, 1926, in Two Rivers to (Charles) Otto and Elsie (Schultz) Nelson, where she attended St. John’s Lutheran School, graduating from Washington High School with the class of 1943. Norma was always fond of her graduating class and continued to organize reunions for her classmates.

On Jan. 14, 2020, we lost a beloved family member and friend when George Bratz, 83, passed away at ThedaCare Medical Center in Waupaca in the presence of friends who loved him like family. Born Feb. 17, 1936, in Elderon to Walter and Ann (Olson) Bratz, George has always been just “George” – flannel, suspenders and his blaze orange jacket, always ready with a smile and genuinely wanting to know how you’ve been. In fact, George was just happy to be around people who loved and accepted him.