Dr. Kenneth E. Hartz, 81, passed away Saturday, December 9, 2017.
Ken was born December 21, 1935 in Philadelphia, PA. to Kenneth H. and Eugenie M. Hartz. He enlisted in the Air Force after graduating high school in 1954. The Air Force took him to Korea, Goose Bay, Labrador, New Mexico, and Maine as a radar operator. He took advantage of the GI Bill and graduated from the University of Maine with an engineering degree. At Penn State he earned a masters in engineering. He continued his love of learning spending time at Johns Hopkins and Ohio State. He ultimately received a doctorate of Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin in 1980.
He worked in a variety of positions including as a professor and heading the Environmental Engineering department at Washington State University in Pullman from the fall of 1979 to December 1989. He continued to teach at WSU Tri-Cities after retirement. He enjoyed woodworking, fly fishing, trap shooting, model trains, and family.
He met Lynne Ashman at WSU, and they married in 1990 on Vashon Island, WA. They later retired to Prosser where they became active members of Sacred Hearth Catholic Church. Ken became a member of the Knights of Columbus, served on the remodeling committee, taught RCIA, and hand built furniture for the altar.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by his wife Lynne of Prosser and brother Jay Hartz of Downers Grove, IL. He is further survived by his children; son David Hartz (Elizabeth) of Minnesota, daughter Leslie Hartz (James Sturm) of Maryland, son Keoki McCarthy (Stephanie) of Seattle, daughter Megan (Ken Nelson) of Seattle, and son Mike McCarthy of Seattle. He is further remembered by 11 grandchildren.
Recitation of the Rosary will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 15th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 16th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers donations to Habitat for Humanity would be appreciated. You may leave a message for the family at www.Prosserfuneralhome.com
