Obituary of William A. Lanz

WESTFIELD - William A. Lanz, age 83, of Westfield, passed away on Thursday morning, October 30, 2014 at home with his family by his side. William was born on April 22, 1931 in Pittsburgh, PA, the son of the late Aloysius W. and Matilda Frances (Schmidt) Lanz. Raised in Pittsburgh, PA, William was a former resident of Fredonia and Brocton and had been a Westfield resident since 2004, when he retired; after a long and distinguished career in the manufacturing of Ceramics and Ceramic Manufacturing Machinery. William had been the co-owner of AJ Wahl Manufacturing in Brocton, and had been employed by the former Buffalo China and the former Syracuse China, where he oversaw the development and implementation of Automated Ceramics factories. He enjoyed working with his hands, restoring old cars, old boats and his home in the true manner of a craftsman. He also found a soft spot in his heart for his beloved cats, Smokey and Bandit. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Patricia (Green) Lanz , whom he married on May 7, 1949 in Brocton, NY, his three daughters: Karen Marie (Larry) Woolsey of Rio Rancho, NM, Jeannette Elizabeth Diamond of Westfield, NY, Lisa (Thomas) Bortle of Elbe, WA and his seven sons: William (Linda Ball) Lanz, Jr. of Quartz Hill, CA, Alan Stewart (Diane) Lanz of Oviedo, FL Erik Duncan (Nayantara) Lanz of Sunland, CA, Michael (Mona) Lanz of Pasadena, CA, Christopher Kevin Lanz of CA, Todd (Darlene) Lanz of Hanover, PA, Neil (Ruth Brown) Lanz of Westfield, and his one sister: Beatrice Maurer of Pittsburgh, PA. 16 Grandchildren, several Great Grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his two sisters, Doris Jean Webster and Katherine Meyers, and by his brother, Charles Lanz. Funeral services will be private with burial in Portland Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Chautauqua County, 20 West Fairmont Avenue, Lakewood, NY 14750 or to the Fire Department of Westfield Memorial Fund, 23 Elm Street, Westfield, NY 14787or to the Westfield Stray Cat Rescue, 61 Academy St., Westfield, NY 14787 Our family wishes to extend a special thank you to; TJ Filutze, Cathy, Diane and Darlene, his private duty caregivers, for making the end so comfortable. MASON Funeral Home, 37 Clinton St., Westfield, NY, has been entrusted with the Funeral Arrangements. Log on to www.masonfuneral.com to send the Lanz family a message of sympathy, to light a Memorial Candle or for further information.