Leslie Eugene Baitz

Sagerton, Texas
Leslie Eugene Baitz, 73, of Sagerton, passed away on Sunday, November 21, 2010 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Faith Lutheran Church in Sagerton with Rev. Dr. Keith Palmquist officiating. Burial will follow in the Old Glory Cemetery under the direction of Tankersley Funeral Home of Stamford. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 6 until 7 p.m.
Leslie was born the youngest of 5 children on May 23, 1937 in Old Glory, Texas to Herman Fritz and Emma Baitz. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Sagerton. He attended Old Glory school for 10 years and graduated from Stamford High School in 1955. On April 5, 1959 Les married Kay Hertel at Zion Lutheran Church in Sagerton. They lived in Stamford where he worked for Cox Implement Company before being drafted into the army in 1960. He was station at Fort Lewis, Washington and then spent a year in Pusan, Korea. In 1962, after returning from Korea, he worked for Stamford Television Cable Company. In 1970 the family moved to the Austin area where he worked as a carpenter, then as parts manager for River City Machinery. In 1993, he was recognized by J. I. Case International for his outstanding customer service. He retired in 1999 and returned to Sagerton in 2004 and joined Faith Lutheran Church where he served as an Elder and as vice-president of the congregation.
He is survived by his wife, Kay Baitz of Sagerton, 2 daughters, Becky Cotton and husband Mark of Sagerton and Carol Cotton and George Zentner of Hutto, TX, 6 grandchildren, Chrystie Smith and husband Zachary, Brandon Cotton, Barbara McCoy and husband Richard, Deborah Lawson and husband Tim, Janice Bage and husband Jacob and Susie Cotton, 8 great grandchildren, Micah, Mason, Alexis, Avery, Eric, Ava, Abbee, and Emma, 3 sisters, Dorothy Clark of Sagerton, Ruby Olson of Stamford, and Mae Stegemoeller and husband Leon of Sagerton, numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, 1 brother, Melvin Baitz, his step father, Herman Raphelt Sr., 2 step brothers, Herman Raphelt Jr., and Willie Raphelt, and 1 step sister, Lilly Mae Reed.