Obituaries:  William G. Kratz, Sabine Parish       K-632
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Jun 25, 1997
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net


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William G. Kratz (Photo)

  Funeral services, with full military honors, for William George
Kratz, 74, of Many, were held Tuesday, June 24, at 2 p.m., in the
First United Methodist Church of Many. Officiating was the Rev.
Hulen Warren Jr., pastor. Assisting was the Rev. John Koelemay,
pastor of Prospect United Methodist Church of Florien. Military
representatives of Fort Polk conducted the services, which were
under the direction of the Warren Meadows Funeral Home.

  Mr. Kratz died at his home Sunday, June 21. He had been ill for
several months.

  He is survived by his widow, Bobbie A. Kratz of Many; three
sons, Kurt Kratz and his wife, Ernie of Washington, D.C., Kent
Kratz and his wife Michelle of Woodstock, Conn., and Kim Kratz
and his wife Amy of Santa Barbara, Calif.; seven grandchildren;
one brother, Marshall Kratz and his wife Charlotte of
Albuquerque, N.M.; and a host of nieces and nephews.

  He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Elizabeth
Ann Kratz, who died as a toddler; and his daughter, Karen Ann
Kratz.

  Mr. Kratz and his wife, the former Bobbie Abington of Many,
retired to their hometown in December, 1982, following a
distinguished career in the military. They returned to care for
her ailing mother, and over the next several years, also cared
for his parents, who came to live in the old Abington home place
with them; and her sister, the late Mary Agnes Byrd; and her son,
Fran.

  After settling in Sabine Parish, Mr. Kratz was selected as
General Manager of the Sabine River Authority from a field of 58
applicants, who were vying for the position. He served in that
capacity from March through June 1989, but resigned, citing in a
letter, that actions at a Board meeting "strongly indicate that
the executive director does not have the requisite confidence of
the Board".

  Following his short-lived career with the SRA, Mr. Kratz taught
math at the Fort Polk Branch of Northwestern State University,
until early 1992, when he retired.

  Born in Omaha, Nebraska on August 9, 1922, to Mr. and Mrs. Roy
Kratz, he was one of three children.

  Raised all over the state of Nebraska, due to his father's
career as a civil engineer, Mr. Kratz attended the University of
Nebraska at Lincoln, before entering the United States Military
Academy at West Point, New York.

  His career was launched when he graduated in the top five
percent of his class at West Point, with a degree in Military
Engineering.

  His career spanned the Cold War era, and he played his part from
clean-up in post World War II Germany, to the Manhattan Project
in Los Alamos, to the rebuilding of Korea, and the command of
5,000 engineer soldiers in Vietnam. Col. Kratz served his
country, and was true to his alma mater, the United States
Military Academy.

  He also received his Master's degree in Civil Engineering from
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1956, and in 1965,
completed an additional Master's degree in Foreign Relations from
George Washington University.

  In addition, he graduated from the U.S. Army War College, the
U.S. Army Engineer School, and the U.S. Army Management School.

  He retired from the United States Army in 1975, with an
honorable discharge, following a distinguished 30 year career. He
was a Colonel.

  Mr. Kratz' management experience included having managed
military and civil projects of increasing size and complexity,
including ammunition fabrication plants, and chemical defoliant
production plants. He had served as a manager in a number of
other capacities as well.

  Furthermore, Mr. Kratz headed a professional board, established
by Congress, which reviewed water resource development projects
of the Corps of Engineers, for adequacy of justification,
accuracy of analysis, and consistency with national policy. While
serving on the board, he also chaired the direction, design, and
construction of major flood control, water supplies, and of
several navigation, and recreation projects.

  Additionally, due to his extensive background in public
relations, he was instrumental in directing the planning involved
in solving local and regional flood protection problems. His
experience also included time spent in the maintenance,
operation, research, and development of other complex projects in
Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa.

  Prior to moving to Louisiana, he served as Project Coordinator
for a $136,000,000 advanced technology wastewater treatment plant
and collection system for the town of Amherst, New York, where he
was responsible for engineering, construction, contractor
coordination, contract change orders, public claims, inquiry, and
information. In this capacity, he worked with the town of Amherst
agencies, the New York State Dept. of Environmental Control, and
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

  Since 1992, he had enjoyed retirement by fishing on Toledo Bend
with his friends, Huey Dowden, and the late Leon Mitchell. He
held membership in the Many Bass Club. He also enjoyed computers,
and crossword puzzles. At one time, he served on the Zoning Board
for the Town of Many.

  Active in the First United Methodist Church of Many, he served
as a liturgist, and was a member of the Worship Committee.

  His leadership abilities, and concerned attitude about Sabine
Parish will be missed.