Edward F. Bartz

Edward F. Bartz passed away on March 25, 2019 at the age of 86 under the care of Suncoast Hospice. He was born on August 18, 1932 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Edward and Opal Bartz, (Brueggeman). Edward was a resident of Palm Harbor, Florida at the time of his death; formerly of Safety Harbor, FL and Belleville, Illinois. He was the loving husband of Marilyn Bartz, (Kalde) for 63 years who survives him as well as their 3 daughters and four grandsons.

Edward was a graduate of Belleville Township High School and received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He joined the firm of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (HOK) in 1960 and remained with the firm until he retired in 2000. In 1984 he moved to Tampa to open the Florida office for the firm. As president of HOK Florida he was responsible for new business development and secured such projects as the Tampa Convention Center, The Florida Aquarium, Airside “A” at the Tampa International Airport and many others. Over the years he received many honors: A fellowship in the American Institute of Architects in 1972, past president of the Illinois Council of Architects, past board of directors of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the A.I.A., and received the Medal of Honor for distinguished service to the Tampa Bay Chapter.

Ed enjoyed hunting, driving classic cars, traveling, playing golf, deep sea fishing, and after he retired he volunteered as groundskeeper at his church, The Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Palm Harbor. Ed will be missed by his family, many friends and colleagues. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his only sister Elizabeth (Betty) Schade. Surviving are his wife Marilyn, daughters Jennifer Kmiec (Eric), Nancy Martin (Gary) and Laura Berkey (John), grandsons Tyler Kmiec, Samuel Kmiec, Austin Good and Kyle Martin, nephew Steve Schade and niece Susan Junge. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to Suncoast Hospice Foundation.