ILAH Ray Portz

Ilah Ray Portz, 12, of Bellevue, passed away on Sunday, April 25, 2021 with her brother Emmett, Mom, and Dad by her side.  Funeral Services will be 10:30 am, Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Salem Lutheran Church in Andrew, Iowa.  Visitation will be 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Friday, April 30, 2021 also at Salem Lutheran Church in Andrew, additional visitation will begin at 9:30 am Saturday at the church prior to services.  Burial will be in St. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in Springbrook.

Local arrangements entrusted to Hachmann-Mier Funeral Home in Bellevue.

Ilah was born January 19, 2009 in Clinton, the daughter of Tony and Val (Gruhn) Portz.  Ilah was also known as Lolli and Peanut Little by those closest to her.  She showed genuine kindness to all, was generous beyond her years, and so giving.  Ilah had a laid back personality, forgiving nature, and contagious smile.  She loved the farm girl life and never met an animal she didn’t love.  Ilah enjoyed drawing, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.  She was active in softball, basketball, and volleyball, along with an occasional backyard football game with her brothers.  She could brighten the darkest days and touched the lives of everyone who knew her. Ilah was ‘Mommy’s best girl’ and Daddy’s everything.  She loved her three brothers fiercely.  Ilah was a doting big sister and best friend to Brigham.  She loved Emmett and enjoyed his coaching tips and when he spent time playing sports with her.  She was the light in her brother Colby’s eye.  She attended Andrew Community Schools and was in the 6th grade.  She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her.  Her memory will live on forever and her light will shine for all eternity.

Survivors include her parents, Valerie and Tony Portz; brothers, Colby Melvin, Emmett Portz, and Brigham Portz; paternal grandparents, Tom and Roxanne Portz; maternal grandparents, Merlyn (John) Law, and Delbert (Linda) Gruhn; paternal great grandmother, Eleanor Thines; maternal great grandmother, Jeanette Gruhn; aunts and uncles, Joe (Cassy) Portz, Bob (Jessica) Portz, Angela (Bruce) Cronk, Heidi (Jeremy) Williams, and Lance Gruhn; Ilah’s ‘other’ parents and siblings, Brian and Jesse Ihrig and their children, Lucas, Hadley (BFF), and Joe; and her other BFF, Kennedy; and numerous cousins, extended relatives, teammates, and close friends.

Ilah was preceded in death by her loving dogs; Scratch, Ali, Chloe, Hazel, Hank, Maybel, and Penelope.

A memorial fund has been established in Ilah’s memory thru Citizens State Bank in her memory, memorials may be mailed or dropped off at any CSB location: Maquoketa, Wyoming, Oxford Junction or Olin and a Venmo account @ilahportz7 with last 4 of phone number 0781 has been established.

Online condolences may be left at hachmannfuneralhome.com