Obituary of Howard Kanitz

Howard Richard Kanitz, 91, The Villages, Lady Lake, FL, died October 18, 2008. He was born on February 22, 1917 near Winfield, KS, the son of Carrie Hodges Kanitz and Ray Kanitz. He married Gertrude Vivian Hahn Kanitz on November 5, 1939 in Baden Memorial Lutheran Church, Winfield, KS. They celebrated thier 68th Wedding Aniversary on November 5, 2007. They made their home in Wellington, KS most of their lives before moving to Florida in 1986. He worked as a procurement manager for Boeing, Wichita, KS for 22 years before taking early retirement in 1972. He then worked for Cargill, Inc., Wichita, KS, as purchasing manager before taking permanent retirement in 1985. He was a charter member and helped build Calvary Lutheran Church, Wellington, KS and was also a charter member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Summerfield, FL. He served in many capacities in both congregations. He was an avid golfer and built and repaired golf clubs as a hobby. Survivors include his wife, Gertrude Vivian, three children; two sons, Howard Vance Kanitz, Wichita, KS, Russell Lynn Kanitz, Ft. Worth, TX and one daughter Martha Ann Yates, Chandler, AZ; one brother, Ernest Kanitz, Winfield, KS, two sisters, Rayda Higdon, Wichita, KS and Roberta Wheeler, Winfield, KS; seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. His parents, two sisters, Margaret Voorhees and Melba Hill and nephews, Randy Pettit, Don Voorhees and Raymond Voorhees preceded him in death. Interment will be in Highland Cemetery, Wifield, KS.