May 9, 1942 – October 5, 2021

A memorial service for Georgia Pietz, 79, of Edgerton was held Monday, October 11, 2021, 10:30 a.m. at the First Reformed Church in Edgerton with Pastor Mark Groen officiating. Interment was in the Hillside Cemetery in Edgerton

Music was provided by organist Brenda Hamm and the congregation singing Abide With Me, There Is A Redeemer, and When Peace Like A River.

Pallbearers were Josh Bucher, Justin Bucher, Eric Pietz, Devin Pietz, Dan Stoakes, and Dennis Zobel.

Georgia Mae Pietz was born to Frank and Anna (Wagenaar) Mess on May 9, 1942, in Adrian, Minn. Frank and Anna moved to a farm northeast of Hardwick, Minn., where they started farming and later moved to a farm west of Kenneth where Georgia started school. In 1953, they purchased their own farm northwest of Adrian where she graduated from high school in 1960 as the class valedictorian. That summer Georgia attended a tech school in Minneapolis for a course in lab and x-ray. Georgia’s first job was working at the hospital in Morris, Minn. In the summer of 1962, she moved to Luverne, Minn., to work at the hospital.

In 1964, she went on a blind date and met Elmer. They were married on July 31, 1965. In November 1966, they moved to West Bend, Wisc., where they both worked at the West Bend Company factory and had two children – Ron and Marcia. In 1970, they purchased a “run-down” farm north of Edgerton and moved there in March of 1971 to begin their 50-year farming adventure.

Elmer and Georgia crop farmed and started a dairy operation. Their third child, Ryan, joined them in the midst of their busy lives. Georgia always enjoyed having a large garden, planting flowers, cooking and canning. All three kids were part of the farming adventure. They were all involved in 4-H and enjoyed going to the county fair and state fair many times. As the kids left home, the farm became more of a “pop and mom” operation as Georgia helped more with the farm work. Elmer and Georgia started the first phase of their retirement when the dairy operation dispersed in 2001. This allowed Elmer and Georgia to start traveling and they were able to take many trips to see the country. Georgia especially enjoyed their trips to Costa Rica, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Georgia was a member of the Priscilla Circle in church since it was formed in the late 1970’s. She enjoyed helping out serving in the kitchen and helped with making “pigs in a blanket” for around 20 years.

In April 2019, she started her fight against breast cancer and had many different chemo treatments which helped her to still live a quality life. In September 2021, her cancer progressed where treatment was discontinued and Georgia started hospice care.

Georgia is remembered by her beloved husband Elmer and her three children, Ron Pietz and his wife Amy of Trosky, Minn., Marcia Bucher and her husband Jeff of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Ryan Pietz and his wife Missy of Webb City, Mo.; four grandsons, Josh Bucher, Justin Bucher, Eric Pietz, and Devin Pietz; and siblings Henry Mess and his wife Elaine, and Cindy Mess.