Cordell L. Kautz
Cordell Lee Kautz, age 62, Elgin, ND went home to the Lord on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. Cordell was born May 13, 1959 in Elgin, ND to Corwin and Alvina (Maier) Kautz. He was the firstborn grandchild to Sam and Erna Kautz building a special bond with his grandparents from Day 1.
Childhood memories included a lot of fishing with his Great Aunt Katie, his brother and cousins at the Heart Butte Dam, playing lots of baseball and driving go-carts in town. Something was bound to happen coming off the school hill. He grew up in the town of New Leipzig completing all of his schooling graduating in 1977.
Cordell never stopped being a “New Leipzig Tiger”. After high school he worked for Interstate Engineering in Beulah for three years. In 1981, he returned to New Leipzig and started farming with Grandpa Sam and Grandma Erna. Along with farming, Cordell became a rural mail carrier in 1983 and carried mail until October of 2021, when his illness took his strength. Having a mom who lived in New Leipzig to stop in for lunch, sure beat carrying a lunch box.
He discontinued farming several years ago. Red Angus cattle were a huge part of his farming career and his reason for farming. Cordell had a love for dogs, definitely not cats. His yellow lab, Toby, was his last and he could never find the heart to replace him.
Cordell had a love for sports, playing baseball, basketball and football. His senior year of football, he was recognized as the football player with “Outstanding Attitude” and the best “Defensive player” in basketball. After high school he played some independent basketball, was a basketball referee as well as a coach for fifth and sixth grade basketball. He didn’t miss out on much in the professional sports world either. He was an avid Boston Red Sox Baseball fan, sharing that love with his father, Corwin, and brother, Clint. He did get several chances to see the Red Sox play in Minneapolis against the Minnesota Twins. They must have been interesting games with Bonnie being a Twins fan. His favorite football team was the “Denver Broncos”. A few trips to Denver in his bachelor days with “the boys” and his Uncle Bob have stories that have been shared a few times. Again, he and Bonnie couldn’t agree on the same team as Bonnie is a Minnesota Vikings fan.
Cordell was a kind and loving man. That kindness in giving Bonnie a ride home late one evening from New Leipzig Oktoberfest in 1994 got him a loving wife whom was his “rock”. Cordell married “My Bonnie” as he always called her on July 13, 1996. They shared everything together. Her cooking talents probably were the biggest hook especially the German foods. They loved to fish, watch sports and sometimes she would even join him on the mail route. They spent a lot of time in the area schools watching local sports of many nieces, nephews and friends.
Cordell and Bonnie were married 25 years in July and an anniversary celebration was held in September. Part of their celebration together was a trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota. His bucket list included a ride in a helicopter and he did it in the Keystone area which included flying around Mt. Rushmore. Bonnie was “chicken” to fly with him. They enjoyed Medora trips every summer. Cordell and Bonnie spent many hours watching nieces and nephews and several great nephews when mom or dad needed a helping hand. They were never to say “no”.
Cordell spent many years on the church council at Immanuel Lutheran Church getting off long enough to follow term limits and returning back to the council. He was a man of strong faith and believed in his Lord. He has been sexton of the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery north of New Leipzig since 2006. He was also a member of the Town and Country Boosters of New Leipzig. Although Cordell never became a Lions member, he spent many Friday nights in the summer at the park with Bonnie preparing, selling and cleaning up after “Hamburgers in the Park”.
Cordell’s last endeavor after years of following Bonnie to the garden was to become the gardener. He couldn’t wait for the first ripe tomato. This past year he started canning the cucumbers and watermelon. Also the past several years he planted the flowers with her.
Funeral services for Cordell will be held at 11:00 am MT on Friday, January 14, 2022, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Leipzig, ND. Pastor John Admundson will officiate with burial to be held at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery north of New Leipzig, ND. The funeral service will be live streamed on the website www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com and the service can be views by going to Cordell’s obituary and clicking on “View Funeral Service Here.”
Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 13, 2022, and a family service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin.