Baltus ‘Bill’ Wilhelm Ortmann, 84

Baltus “Bill” Wilhelm Ortmann passed away at Journey Care in Woodstock, Ill., on Sept. 19, 2019, at the age of 84.
Per his request, no service will be held at this time.
Bill was born July 31, 1935, in Johannisburg, Germany, and has two sisters. Bill migrated to the United States to live with his late Aunt Rose at the age of 19. He attended night classes at Fenger High School in Chicago for two years to learn English while working at the Drake Hotel as an assistant chef. He became a citizen of the United States and was very proud of his citizenship.
He met his late wife, Hilda, in a dance hall and they soon married and had three children, two sons and a daughter. He retired from Motorola after 26 years of continuous service, where he worked as a mechanic. He is survived by his family and their spouses, including his two sisters, Ingrid Behnke and Heide Stracke; his children, Michael Ortmann, Luise (Ken) Pohlmeier, and Eric Cortman; his five grandchildren, Joseph (Samantha) McMillan, Katherine (Chris) Karcher, Ryan Ortmann, Rebecca Ortmann, and Olivia Pohlmeier; and five great-grandchildren.
Bill enjoyed camping, walking along nature paths, and spending time with his family. He will be greatly missed, always loved, and never forgotten. Bill always had good words of advice that he shared with his friends and family.