Loretta Irene Bortz, 79, died Sunday, December 17, 2006 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City from a sudden illness.  Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 21 at Brosh Chapel in Solon.  Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery.   Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Brosh Chapel in Solon and for an hour prior to services Thursday at the Chapel.

Loretta was born February 24, 1927 in Solon the daughter of Rudolph and Clara Reif Lingel.  She married George Carl Bortz August 10, 1949 in Cedar Rapids.  Loretta and George farmed for many years in the Solon area.  She enjoyed spending time on the farm, cooking and playing cards.  She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, the Ely Legion Auxillary as well as the Cedar Booster Club.

Loretta is survived by her husband George, a daughter Nancy(Robert) Welsh of Williamsburg; seven grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren; a brother Wilbur "Bud" (Doris) Lingel of Solon; a daughter in law Patti Schott of Tipton and a special family member Malinda (Dave) Poduska of Lowden.

Loretta is preceded in death by her parents, a son Gary who died January 11, 2004.

Memorials may be directed to the Solon 1 ^st Responders and or Hospice of Iowa City.