Obituary of Michael Kautz

Michael Earl Kautz, 65, of Burdett, died on Monday, March 30, 2015 in Rochester after a brief illness. Mike was born in Sandusky, Ohio on November 1, 1949 ("All Saints Day!" he'd remind you), the son of Howard and Iris Kautz. He was raised on his family's Ohio produce farm and paid his way through Ohio State University picking sweet corn. He was a proud member of Alpha Zeta; competed on the university's livestock and horse judging teams, and graduated with a B.S. in Animal Science. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve his country, and after his honorable discharge, he attained his M.S. in Animal Science at the University of Connecticut where he also coached numerous livestock judging teams. He married Gail Tucker in 1979, and they began dairy farming in New York, milking cows at their Burdett farm for over 35 years. Mike loved sunny-and-seventy-degree days, being outdoors, the smell of freshly-turned soil, and oak trees. He loved reading, sports, and the OSU Buckeyes…but his favorite thing of all was visiting with his five children who survive him…Jeff, Tucker, Jill, Todd, and Matthew. They were truly the lights of his life. Mike is also survived by many out-of-state family members; he was especially close to brothers Dan and Lee. In accordance with his wishes, he will be buried at Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Romulus. There will be no calling hours or formal service. Mike's family greatly appreciates the many kindnesses of friends and neighbors as they struggled through this dark, relentless winter. "Will it come like this, the moment of my death? Will you open a door upon the great forest and set my feet upon a ladder under the moon, and take me out among the stars?" -Thomas Merton Arrangements have been entrusted to Vedder and Scott Funeral Home in Montour Falls.