Kenneth Ken John Kortz

Kenneth John Kortz, 84, died unexpectedly on Dec 13, 2023 at Fairview Hospital in Edina, MN. He was born on Jan 11, 1939 in Minneapolis, MN to George & Lydia (Kerchiel) Kortz. He married Ellen on Jan 12, 1968 and they adopted their daughter from So Korea in 1971. He is survived by wife Ellen of almost 56 years, daughter, sister, nephew, niece, and many grand nieces/nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. He graduated from Minneapolis South High School in 1957. Attended the University of MN, graduated from Metropolitan State University and obtained an Associate of Risk Management designation. He was a lifetime insurance industry employee, starting as a field inspector, then claims representative, claims manager, teacher, and ultimately retired as the corporate risk manager for the Holiday Stationstores after 18 years. Ken was an avid skier, sailor, bicycler, bread baker and wine aficionado. He enjoyed their sailboats on Lake Minnetonka and their times up on the North Shore. He enjoyed travels throughout the world by car, bus, train and cruising on riverboats, ocean liners and windjammers. Visiting 6 continents including many of the sites relating to WWII, going around Cape Horn and Vietnam and Hong Kong were some of his favorites. And interest in wine took him to vineyards in France, Chile, and Italy and often to the Napa and Sonoma Valleys in California. He seldom missed the arrival of the Nouveau Beaujolais. A memorial service to celebrate Ken's life will be held at Normandale Lutheran Church at 6100 Normandale Rd, Edina, MN 55436, Friday, Jan 5, 2024 - 10am visitation, 11am service and 12pm lunch reception. Originally published in the Star Tribune on Dec 17, 2023