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George L. Voelz, age 76, a resident of Albuquerque since 1998, died on Friday, January 31, 2003, after a long battle with prostate cancer. George was born on October 13, 1926 in Wittenbertk, Wisconsin to George A. Voelz and Louise (Hacker) Voelz. He is survived by his wife, Mary (Wesselman) Voelz; daughter, Valerie Rosenthal and her husband, Mark and three grandchildren of Albuquerque; son, David Voelz and his wife, Judi of Las Cruces, NM; son, Brian Voelz and his wife, Lisa of Lakewood, CO; daughter, Sharon Voelz of El Paso, TX; step-son, Eric Bartsch and his wife, Alicia of Holland, OH; and step-daughter, Julie Bartsch of Westminster, CO. He also leaves a brother, Carl Voelz of Minnetonka, MN; and sisters, Rose Matthews of Plover, WI and Paula Bushner of Green Bay, WI. George was preceded in death by his parents; and by his first wife, Emily (Neunast) Voelz. George served in the US Navy during WWII as an electronics technician. He received BS and MD (1950) degrees from the University of Wisconsin. After residency in Portland, OR and a fellowship year at the U. of Cincinnatis Kettering Institute, he was a staff physician at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM from 1952-57. From 1957-1970 he was head of the Medical Department at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID. George returned to Los Alamos in 1970 as head of the LANL Health Division until 1982. From 1982 until his retirement in 1990 he served in the Health Division office and as head of epidemiology research. Since 1990 he consulted with LANL as a Guest Scientist in his capacity as an internationally recognized expert on the effects of ionizing radiation. He directed a 50-year follow-up study on the effects of exposure to plutonium on Manhattan Project workers who developed the atomic bombs at Los Alamos during WWII. George was a devoted husband and father, and was a wonderful mentor and guide to all his family. In addition to his love of gardening, skiing and computer investment analysis, he was a lifelong avid fan of the Green Bay Packers football team. George was an active member of Lutheran congregations throughout his life, serving on church councils, singing in choirs, and playing baritone horn in brass ensembles. He participated in four European tours with the Los Alamos Choral Society and sang with the barbershop choruses in both Los Alamos and Albuquerque. George will be greatly missed by all who loved him and counted him as a friend. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, February 7, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 6901 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque. A Service will also be held on Saturday, February 8, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2390 North Road, Los Alamos, to be followed by interment at Guaje Pines Cemetery in Los Alamos. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the memorial fund at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, or to CaPCure, the Association for the Cure of Cancer of the Prostate, 1250 Fourth Street, Suite 360, Santa Monica CA 90401. French Mortuary 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE 823-9400
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