Obituary: Apitz, Delmer Gene “Del”
Age 86
He was born on a farm in Brookfield Township near New Ulm, Minnesota to Hugo and Bernice Apitz.
The elder son, he helped his dad on the farm before attending Morris Agricultural School and then signing up for the Navy at the age of seventeen.
He entered the military December 30, 1944 as a plank owner, and worked on the USS Consolation AH15 hospital ship.
Following his discharge at the end of WWII, he headed west where his family had settled just north of Spokane.
On a blind date, he met Mary Jane and they married in August of 1948.
Del farmed for a short time, worked for Dart Truck and Tractor selling and delivering farm equipment, worked at Phillips Petroleum Company as a warehouseman until 1971 and later began his own tire business.
He owned and operated Spokane Tire Sales before retiring at the age of 72.
He is preceded in death by his wife Mary and sister Margaret Ottoson.
He is survived by sister Vera Ottoson; brother Merle Apitz; his daughters, Cynthia Resseman (Patrick Breeden), and Sandra See; grandsons, Lon Lyons, Chad Resseman, Andrew See, Todd Resseman and Marc Resseman; six great-granddaughters, five great-grandsons and one great-great-granddaughter.
His hobbies included playing his accordion and working on building projects.
Del was a dedicated patriot and he followed politics closely.
He was a lifetime member of the Lutheran church.
His family was his greatest joy; if the measure of a man is how he loved his family, this man stood above them all.
Viewing at RIPLINGER FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, 4305 N. DIVISION SPOKANE, WA, Saturday, December 29 and Monday, January 31, from 9 to 5.
Please join the family in celebrating his life January 2nd, at one o’clock, Sunset Chapel, Fairmount Memorial Park with burial following.
The family suggests memorials to Horizon Hospice or Trinity Lutheran Church, Spokane WA.
Online guestbook at www.riplingers.com.