William C. (Buffalo Bill) Hintz June 29, 1928 – Jan. 17, 2019


William C. (Buffalo Bill) Hintz

      William Clark Hintz, age 90 years, of Monticello, passed away Jan. 17, 2019 at St. Luke's Hospital.

      He was born June 29, 1928 at the Monticello Hospital in Monticello, Iowa, the son of Irving R. and Harriet (Clark) Hintz. As a youngster, Bill helped his father on the farm and was active in 4-H from age 9.  He graduated from Monticello High School at age 17, in 1946.  He enlisted in the army from 1946 to 1949 and spent almost two years serving in Haneda, Japan.  In 1949, Bill was discharged and returned home and worked for a year at Schaffer's Clothing Store until he was recalled back into the active reserves in 1950 and served the Army/Air Corps as a Staff Sergeant at Lowry Airforce Base until August 1951.  Once again, Bill returned to Monticello and this time he bought into a farm.  William met Virginia A. (Caslavka) Hintz and the couple was married April 16, 1954. They raised livestock and farmed their entire lives.  Bill also started and owned Hintz Service, a Buffalo Farm Equipment implement business which introduced the concept of minimum tillage farming to the area and earned him the nickname, Buffalo Bill.

      Bill was well read and self-educated in a number of areas including veterinary abilities, agronomy (did a great deal of personal research over the years), and construction.  He was actively involved with conservation organizations and the Jones County Pork and Beef Producers.  He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for 40 years and later joined the Church of the Nazarene for the remainder of his life.

      Bill collected the art of Norman Rockwell and Charlie Russell.  He also enjoyed horseback riding, conversing with friends, and time with his grandchildren.

      William is survived by his wife, Virginia; three children; Lark (Marty) Richards of Cedar Rapids, Lawrence (Malinda) Hintz of Cedar Rapids, and Dawn (Richard) Burmahl of Monticello; a foster daughter, Sheila Keseburg of Urbana; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Ruth Hintz of Arizona and Norma (Charles) Casino of Arizona.

      He was preceded in death by his parents.

      A Life Celebration Service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon, Jan. 20, 2019 at the New Life Community Church, Monticello where friends called after 1 p.m. Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello has taken Bill and his family into their care.

      The family requests that no memorials be given.

 

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