Alvin E. "Al" "Opa" Hitz

Our loving, caring and hardworking, father, opa, great opa and brother passed away early Tuesday morning, January 7, 2020 after a courageous battle with cancer, at the Toni & Trish House with his family by his side at the, age 83 years. The son of the late Theodore and Alma (Schumann) Hitz was born July 18, 1936 in Bay City, Michigan. Al graduated from T.L. Handy High School. Following high school he worked a short time at General Motors Bay City Plant, and that just wasn't for him, Al being the dreamer he was, had a dream one night he wanted to see the world, he followed that dream, left GM  and enlisted in the U.S. Army. That dream turned in to serving 26 years in the U.S. Army retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer. He served in the Korean Conflict and Vietnam and received the Purple Heart Medal. While stationed in Germany he met the love of his life the former Hiltrud M. "Hilu" Schachner and they were married October 1, 1966 and she passed away June 26, 2018. Following retirement he moved his family from Germany back to Linwood where he has resided for many years. He went on to work as a machinist at Advanced Technologies and found his niche job at Joes Tables in Pinconning as a foreman and retired from there after many years of service. Al loved to be outdoors, whether it was working in his garden or yard, feeding his birds and squirrels or helping with projects at his kid's houses. He also liked to tinker in his basement and shed whether it was fixing something or building something. Al also enjoyed fishing, deer hunting for many years with his sons and son-in-law which he still told stories about the hunting days, loved it when you would stop over to his house to visit and drink a few Bush beers with him, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and attending his grandkids practices and sporting events, opa was their biggest supporter.
Left to cherish his memories are two sons, Michael (his fiancée Janice Hebert) Hitz and Steven (Karen) Hitz; one daughter, Nicole (David) Luczak; his grandchildren, Shane (Stephanie) Hitz, Chelsea (Josh) Lambert, Brandon Luczak, Zachary Hitz, MacKenize Hitz and Tyler Luczak; his great grandchildren, Kaylynn and Theron Lambert and a third great grandchild expected in April; his sisters and brothers, Carol Weinlander, Maureen Coon, Farolyn Mullin, Alan (Pat) Hitz and Jerry Hitz; his sisters-in-law in Germany, Brigette (Peter) Messinger and Mechtild Groesch; many nieces and nephews; his faithful companions, his cat Lucky and his pet bird Buddy who kept him company after the loss of his wife. In addition to his parents and wife he was also preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Elizabeth (Biltz) Schachner; brother and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Charles and Kathleen "Kay" Hitz, Dena Hitz, James Coon and Walter Weinlander. A special thank you is extended to his caregivers over the last several months, Michelle, Schwabie and all the staff of McLaren Hospice, Shane at Compassionate Care and the entire staff of the Toni & Trish House for the kind and compassionate care Al received during his time of need.
Funeral and Committal Service will take place on Saturday, January 11, 2020  at 11:00 a.m. at Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. Officiating will be Rev. Joseph Atchinson followed by military honors conducted by the U.S. Army and the Bay County Veterans Council with interment following in Heavenly Rest Cemetery. The family will be present at the funeral home on Friday to receive family and friends from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider donations to the Toni & Trish House. For online condolence please share those at www.gephartfuneralhome.com .