Lawrence Earl Kaatz

Lawrence “Earl” Kaatz passed away peacefully on December 30, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. He was 89 years old. Earl is free of all pain and ailments, and is rejoicing in his forever home that our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ has prepared for him. He is reunited with the love of his life, Mildred “Jean” Wood Kaatz, his parents, Edgar and Helen Kaatz, and his brother, Larry Kaatz. John 14:2. Earl was born in Wilson, Texas on March 5, 1935 to Edgar Kaatz and Helen Nolte Kaatz. His family moved to Fort Worth when he was a young boy where he attended elementary, middle and high school. Earl was a Boy Scout and would often reminisce of his childhood days and would have his daughter drive him through his old “stomping grounds”. Earl enjoyed making his home in a Senior Living community that was built near an old hiking and campsite that he visited often while a Boy Scout. Earl served in the United States Army. After his discharge from the U.S. Army, he attended Tulane University in New Orleans and UTA in Arlington where he studied and earned his degree in Architecture specializing in Geodesic Domes. He designed, and sometimes helped build his designs. The dome that was closest to his heart was the one he designed and built for his family in Arlington, Texas in 1982. Earl met Jean in 1978 at a Parents without Partners outing and they married July 4, 1979. Jean passed away November 30, 2007, as evidence of their true love, he remained a widow. Early on in their marriage, Earl graciously and selflessly chose to adopt Jean’s three daughters Pamela, Angela and Donna when they were 12, 10 and 8 and he raised them as his own. He chose us and we are grateful for his love, dedication and his kind heart. The family is incredibly thankful to Lakewood Village for the years of love and support of our dad. We are thankful and grateful to Ultimate Hospice and Cityview Nursing & Rehabilitation for providing our dad peace, comfort and dignity during his last months on earth. Our dad is now at peace and reunited with the love of his life, our mother! Earl is survived and will be greatly missed by his daughters, sons in law, grandchildren and great grandchildren; Daughter Pam Newby Kaatz Braly and her fiancé Scott Roe, her sons, Alexander Ashkar and his longtime girlfriend Taylor Tamage, Evan Ashkar and his fiancé Bre Gibbs, Daughter Angela Newby Kaatz Vandervoort and her husband Mark Vandervoort and their children Mark Vandervoort Jr, Allison Vandervoort Ramirez and her husband Francisco. Daughter Donna Newby Kaatz Bakouris and her husband Mitchel Bakouris, and their children, Erica Ross and her husband Doug, Landon Minor and his wife Karsen, Kason Bakouris, Bailey Bakouris and her fiancé Christian Eltiste. Daughter Vonda Kaatz Klimaszewski and her 2 children Julia Hussey Maietta and Katherine Hussey. He also survived by his two great-grandchildren, Asher and Olivia Ramirez. Earl is also survived by his brother David Kaatz and his wife Rebecca, sister Lorna Finkenbinder and her husband Tom, sister-in-law Pam Kaatz (Larry), sister-in-law, Earline Anderson and her husband Ed, brother-in-law Manley Wood and his wife Patsy, and his brother-in-law, James Wood, as well as many nieces and nephews. Matthew 5:4 A Celebration of life will be held on Saturday January 11, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Horn-Nail-Haggard Funeral Home, 400 Webb St., Daingerfield, Texas. Burial will take place in Clark Cemetery. John 16:22, “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”