Eugene Nitz, Sr.

Eugene (Gene) Anthony Nitz, Sr., 100, a beloved father, “Papa,” and friend to many was born to eternal life on Wednesday, July 13, at his home in Winston-Salem, N.C. Born Aug. 14, 1921, in Cook County, Ill., he was the oldest of the two children of Peter Joseph Nitz, a mailman, and his wife Frances Koscierski Nitz, a homemaker. Gene grew up in Cicero, Ill., and delivered newspapers, including “to the gangsters,” for the Chicago Daily during his early teenage years. He graduated from J. Sterling Morton High School in 1939 and then attended Morton Junior College. Following Japan’s attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Gene enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in January 1942. He honorably served in active duty from October 1942 through April 1946, and went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1970. His military training and assignments took him to Texas as an aviation cadet, to Mississippi as a ground officer, and later to Florence Army Airfield in Florence, S.C. It was during his time in Florence that he met Vangalier (Van) Poulas at an officer’s club dance held at Coker College, where she attended school. Gene and Van married on Dec. 20, 1944, and began their more than 70 years of marriage full of boundless love for one another, their family, and their favorite pastime of dancing together. Shortly after their marriage, Gene’s assignment took him to Pearl Harbor in 1945, where he worked in operations for six months. He later deployed to Iwo Jima as a bomber pilot flying P-51 Mustang bombers. When he returned from that deployment in 1946, he and Van moved to Chicago, Ill., and lived with Gene’s parents while he completed his bachelor of science in mechanical engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology, graduating in 1948. They moved to Winston-Salem in 1952 when Gene began a job with Western Electric, which would later become AT&T and Lucent Technologies. He worked in the company’s defense division for 43 years and, with Van, raised their family of five children. Gene lived a life of devotion to his family, faith, and community. He and Van initially attended St. Leo the Great Catholic Church upon their arrival to Winston-Salem, and in 1967 joined Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church. Gene was a Eucharistic minister, lector, and active member of the Corpus Christi Prayer Group and Knights of Columbus Catholic men’s organization. After retirement, he enjoyed volunteering countless hours as “Mr. Fix-it” at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and School. Throughout his life, Gene “walked the walk” and could always be counted on not only by his family, but anyone in need. He leaves a legacy of love for others, kindness, and integrity. Gene was preceded in death by his parents and two nephews, Tommy and Bobby Jurca; his loving wife of 71 years, Van, in 2016; and son-in-law, Don Renegar, in 1999. He is survived by his five children, Patricia Nitz (Antonio de las Morenas) of Winston-Salem, N.C., Susan Renegar (Bruce Fenn) of Winston-Salem, N.C., Tony Nitz (Carrie) of Greensboro, N.C., Jim Nitz (Lisa) of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Joe Nitz (Elizabeth Matthews) of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; 20 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Jurca of Cicero, Ill.; and niece Karen Jurca Levitt (Gary) of Las Vegas, Nev. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Gene’s caregivers — Brittany Boitnott, Marcia Calloway, Nadine Chamberlain, Carolyn Cunningham, Brianna Granger, Reese Jackson, Carolyn James, Renee Locklear, Shelly Traxler, and Dr. Ted Toberg and staff — for the loving care they so freely gave him over many years. Visitation will be held 4-6 p.m. (5 p.m. rosary service) on Sun., July 17, at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home (Silas Creek location). A funeral mass will be held on Mon., July 18, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 1730 Link Rd., at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow immediately at Parklawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Gene’s name to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and/or Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School.