CURTIS -- Walter A. Kutz, 88, of rural Hayes Center died on April 16, 2007, at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis.

Walter Adolph Kutz was born on October 3, 1918, in McDonald, Kan., to Adolph and Martha (Schultz) Kutz. He grew up with one sister, Mary Mae (Kutz) Duvel. He attended school in Max and graduated at Benkleman High School.

He attended college for one year at the University of Nebraska at Kearney before enlisting in the Air Force in 1941. He was a pilot with Lt. Col. James "Jimmie" Doolittle's Eighth Air Force Fighter Squadron in World War II in the European campaign. He was discharged as a Lieutenant in 1946 in St. Louis, Mo.

He returned to Nebraska and married Bertha Agnes Klumpe on Sept. 11, 1946. He moved to Hayes County and purchased his farm in 1954. He was a progressive farmer/rancher until his passing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Martha and Adolph, his wife, Bertha, and his sister Mary Mae Duvel.

He is survived by his brother-in-law, Marvin Klumpe and wife, Sylvia and sister-in-law, Arlene Williams and husband, Dwight. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

The rosary was on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the St. James Catholic Church in Curtis.

The memorial funeral Mass was at 10:30 on Thursday, April 19, at the St. James Catholic Church with a dinner following at Klehn hall. Inurnment for Bertha and Walter will be at the Benkelman Cemetery following the dinner.