Neil Hirtz

DYERSVILLE, IOWA Neil F. “Schnitz” Hirtz, 67, of Litchfield, New Hampshire passed away Monday, March 27, 2017, at 7:20 am, in Manchester, New Hampshire after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10 am, Friday, April 14, 2017, at the St. Francis Cemetery Chapel in Dyersville. Rev. Dennis Quint will officiate. Friends and relatives may begin to gather at 9 am at the chapel. Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville is assisting the family. Neil was born in Anamosa, Iowa on July 24, 1949, the son of Paul and Grace (Schockemoel) Hirtz. He was raised in Temple Hill, Iowa before moving to Dyersville during his junior year in high school. He finished his senior year at Beckman Catholic High School with the Class of 1967. He was a man of few words but had a very kind heart and loved to make people laugh. His passion was going to car races. He worked as a trucker and mechanic. As a mechanic he enjoyed taking cars and motorcycles apart, only to put them right back together again. He enjoyed playing countless games of gin rummy with family and friends. Survivors include his companion, Mona Zaker, of Litchfield, NH; his daughter, Lisa (Joe) Ward of Pelham, NH; a grandson, Cameron Ward of Pelham, NH; Mona’s daughter, Donna (Brian) Henderson of Peterborough, NH; Donna’s son, Joshua Zaker of Virginia Beach, VA; siblings: Carol (LeRoy) Ruden of Dyersville, Gary (Kathy) Hirtz of Durango, Greg Hirtz of Dyersville, Doug Hirtz of LaMirada, CA, stepsiblings: John (Pam) Hinrichs and Kathleen (Jim) Hall, both of Cedar Rapids; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings: Jeff Hirtz and Julie Wemmer.