Herbert Katz

Herbert (Herb) Katz was born in Basel, Switzerland on October 17, 1947 to Otto and Klara Katz. Stricken by a rapid, unexpected illness, Herb passed away peacefully on January 6, 2015 surrounded by his family. He was 67 years old.

Herb moved to America with his parents in 1949. The family settled in Holladay, Utah where Herb enjoyed a happy childhood and sometimes tormented his little sister, Jenny. Herb graduated from Granite High School and soon after enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served as a military police officer stationed in a variety of locations including Washington, Oklahoma, and Korea. He was honorably discharged from military service and joined the Utah Highway Patrol in Cedar City, Utah where he met a beautiful young woman from Parowan named Betty Sue. Herb and Betty Sue were married on November 2, 1974. A few years afterwards their children Joseph, Steven, and Heather arrived.

Herb was a caring father who worked hard to provide a good life for his family. Herb had a distinguished career at the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) where he began patrolling the highways of southern Utah with his brothers-in-law. Herb moved his family to Salt Lake City as he advanced through the UHP. He also attended school at night to receive his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the Weber State University while working full time and raising a family. Over his 30 year tenure with the Patrol, Herb eventually reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and served as a member of the protective details for both Governors Scott Matheson and Norman Bangerter. In 2001, Herb made his first attempt at retirement which lasted a mere four months (if he could golf in the winter he might have had better luck). Herb went to work for West Valley City creating and administrating their new municipal court. Herb left West Valley for the Utah Safety Council where he worked until trying his hand at retired life again. This time it stuck.

Herb’s retirement only facilitated his lifelong love of the outdoors. Whether it was doing yard work, playing golf five days a week, hiking to the bottom of Brown’s Hole, camping with his family at Bear Flat, cruising around Indian Peak in a Jeep, or sitting on a tailgate eating a honeycrisp apple, Herb loved spending time out in nature and sharing that time with his family and friends. Herb loved to play games on Sunday nights despite the fact his seven year old grandson could consistently beat him at any game he chose. Herb was a kind, intelligent, loyal and respected leader, mentor, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, and friend and despite his occasional “eye-boinging” moments, he is going to be deeply missed by everyone whose life intersected his.

Herb is preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Klara, and brothers-in-law Kent (Beth) and Clinton (Linda). Herb is survived by his wife Betty Sue, his sister Jennifer, his children Joseph (Meredith), Steven (Tammisty), and Heather, his nephew Bryan (Katherine), as well as his grandchildren Trevyn, Brayden, Dallin, Kelsie, and Caroline. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Boyd (Mary) and sister-in-law Jenna Dean (Scott).

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, January 12, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. at the Stone Ridge LDS Church at 12070 Laruel Chase Drive, Riverton, Utah. Friends and family may pay their respects at a viewing to be held on Sunday, January 11, 2015 from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. at the Wasatch Lawns Mortuary, 3401 South Highland Drive, Holladay, Utah or one hour prior to the funeral services at the church on January 12th. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Herb’s name to The Wounded Warrior Project or The Officer Down Memorial.

The family would like to offer special thanks to Dr. Douglas Newbold, Dr. Glen Robinson, the nursing team at the IMC Neurology Unit, Kyle and Bradley, and the IHC Hospice nursing staff for their diligence, professionalism, and compassion caring for Herb from the onset of his symptoms through his final days. Special thanks is also extended to Meredith Columb who suspended her own grief in order to ensure Herb received the care he both needed and deserved.