Joseph "Bull" Hotz

J.E. “Bull” Hotz, age 58, of Kempner, passed away at home on Saturday, January 2, 2021. Funeral Services will be at 1:00 PM, Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at Grace United Methodist Church with burial following with honors at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 PM Monday at Viss Family Funeral Home, 1614 S. FM 116, Copperas Cove, TX. Services will be live-streamed by Grace United Methodist Church of Copperas Cove. You can watch the service on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GUMCCove

Bull was born on September 27, 1962, in Long Branch, NJ to Raymond and Kathleen Crawford Hotz. He graduated from Middletown High School North in 1981 and joined the United States Army the same year. Bull served for 18 years. He met Rita Sparenberg in Killeen and they married on August 11, 1995. In 1999, he medically retired from the Army and starting working on his Bachelor’s Degree. Bull completed his Animal Science degree with a minor in biology in 2006 from Tarleton University. He worked for another 13 years for TDCJ, was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Copperas Cove. He would attend various Methodist churches in the area as he supported his wife in her role in the church. Bull was a cowboy at heart, even if he was born in New Jersey. He was rarely seen without his hat and boots. He enjoyed being a bull rider until he became more afraid of his loving wife than the bulls.

Bull was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Hotz; and an infant brother, Frank Hotz.

Bull is survived by his wife, Rita Hotz; mother, Kathleen Businski and husband, Eugene; children, Kathryn Hotz, Josepeh Hotz, Jr., and wife, Dakota, Wesley Hotz; and his brother, Michael Hotz.