Kenneth E. Hartz, 81, who worked at WSU Pullman from 1979 from 1989, and also taught at WSU Tri-Cities, died Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017.
Hartz was born Dec. 21, 1935, in Philadelphia, Penn., to Kenneth H. and Eugenie M. Hartz. He enlisted in the U.S. 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 degree 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.
Hartz worked in a variety of positions including as a professor and heading the department of environmental engineering at Washington State University 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.
Hartz met Lynne Ashman at WSU, and they married in 1990 on Vashon Island, Wash. They later retired to Prosser, where they became active members of Sacred Hearth Catholic Church. He became a member of the Knights of Columbus, served on the remodeling committee, taught the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, and hand built furniture for the altar.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by his wife Lynne of Prosser, 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, son Mike McCarthy of Seattle, and many special friends.
In lieu of flowers donations to Habitat for Humanity would be appreciated.