Dane Patrick Schartz, 30, Great Bend, died July 10, 2016, after a valiant nearly four-year battle against colon cancer. He was born June 11, 1986, the son of Shannon and Jennifer (Potter) Schartz in Great Bend. He was a 2005 graduate of Great Bend High School.
He was a manager at Finish Line in Salina and Independence, Mo., where he won many awards including the National Sales Leadership Award. For the past two years, he has been employed by the Kansas City Royals in the Authentics Department. A lifelong Royals fan, this was his dream job and he was proud to be a part of the Royals family during 2014 when they won the American League Championship and 2015 when they won the World Series. As a front-office team member, he was awarded championship rings for both years.
Survivors include his parents; two sisters, Melanie Lewis of Great Bend; and Brianna Schartz of Manhattan; one nephew, Declan Lewis; one niece, Delaney Lewis; one grandmother, Lil Livingston of Great Bend; aunts and uncles, Kathy and Bill Turgeon of Akeley, Minn., Joe and Margaret Potter of Great Bend, Mike and Cindy Potter of Olathe, Randy and Suzanne Schartz of Overland Park, Deena and Alan Hutsell of Prairie Village and Monte Schartz of Kansas City. He also leaves behind his two faithful dog companions, Jackson and Loki. He was preceded in death by grandparents Duane and Rosemary Potter and Thon Schartz.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick Church, 4100 Broadway, in Great Bend with the Rev. Don Bedore officiating, followed by inurnment at Hillcrest Cemetery. A Celebration of Life for family and friends to gather for fellowship will be from 6-9 p.m. Friday evening at St. Rose of Lima Auditorium, 1422 Baker St., in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to Golden Belt Humane Society or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, in care of the Schartz family, 2230 Prairie Rose Dr., Great Bend, KS 67530. Condolences may also be sent to the Schartz family directly.

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, July 12, 2016**