Earl "Sonny" William Stortz Jr.

Earl "Sonny" William Stortz Jr. passed away Thursday, April 14, 2022, aged 82 years, in Omaha, Nebraska, surrounded by family. He was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa on February 21, 1940 to Earl William Stortz Sr. and Mildred Mae (Lewis) Stortz.

He grew up in Council Bluffs and at the age of 19 joined the United States Navy. He enjoyed many years of calling the colored pin sweeper at Papio Bowl in Papillion and was a truck driver for over 20 years. He went on to work as a Soil Conservationist for the Department of Agriculture and the National Resource District, retiring in 2001.

Sonny was a lover of golfing, especially bright and early in the morning, fishing, playing cards, conversation, dancing, keno, garage sales, thrift stores, playing bingo at Legion Post 32, and piddling around in the shed of his house on Washington Street in Papillion. He was loved by many and his infectious laugh, twinkling eyes, and his kind-hearted nature will be forever missed.

Sonny is preceded in death by his mother, Mildred Mae Diller; his father, Earl William Stortz Sr.; his step-father, Harold W. Diller; and his sister, Donna Jean Bilderback.

He is survived by his children, Angela Ellinger, Robert Stortz, Ronald Stortz, Russel Stortz, and Sheryl Moore; his grandchildren, Gavin Ellinger, Maci Ellinger, Lane Carnako, Blake Dusheck, Valerie Coe, Alexis Stortz, Makenna Stortz, Delaney Stortz, Pyper Stortz, Amber Benton, and Angelik Twombly; his close friends, Mary Schroeder, Dennis Schroeder, Rick Mertens, and Maggie Mertens.