Scott (Scotty) Andrew Wirtz, 42, of St. Louis, Missouri was killed in battle in Syria on January 16, 2019. He is survived by his Father David F. Wirtz and wife Fran (nee Pecoraro) Wirtz and his Mother, Saundra K (nee Smith) Wirtz and Jack R. Wilson, all of Lake St. Louis. He had no siblings.

Scott attended All Souls and St. Richard's Catholic grade schools and is a graduate of De Smet Jesuit High School. Scott achieved his life-long dream of joining the U.S. Navy to become a Navy SEAL. He graduated from US Navy Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Class 216 on April 24, 1998. He spent most of his Navy career from 1998 to 2005 assigned to the Coronado, Calif-based SEAL Team 5, where he specialized as a sniper. He served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and also deployed to locations in Africa, the Philippines and South Korea.

During his tenure in the Navy, he earned awards including the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Good Conduct Medals, and qualified as an expert marksman. He was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism as a DIA civilian.

After serving in the Navy, he spent years working for military security contracting groups before joining the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2017 as an operations support specialist, charged with overseeing operations to collect human intelligence. He served three deployments to the Middle East in the role.

Scotty was an avid deep sea and spear fisherman when off duty and enjoyed fishing around the world.   He was an undefeated MMA fighter who trained at Centruy 21 Gym in Pacific, MO and Black House MMA in Brazil. Scott played football at DeSmet and rugby for the St. Louis Rambler Rugby Club.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Richard and Marcia Wirtz, John and Ann Smith, Joan Pecoraro and aunts Jan (Smith) Nibert and Diana L. Smith. He is survived by Grandfather Tony Pecoraro, nephew of Richard and Karen Wirtz, Marcia (Wirtz) and Thomas Heideman, Fred and Diane Wirtz, Mary (Wirtz) and Jeff Elliott and Lisa (Wirtz) and Paul Hampton. Susan (Smith) and Jim Chevrette. Tony and Mary Pecoraro, Laura (Pecoraro) and Gary Ambersley, Jim and Sheree Pecoraro, Joyce (Pecoraro) and Bob Miller, JoAnn (Pecoraro) and Nick Martorelli, John Pecoraro, Steve and Laura Pecoraro and Gina (Pecoraro) and Phil Ramirez. Beloved cousin of many, wonderful son, friend to many and trusted brother in the SEAL community. Go Spartans. "Hoo Yah"

Visitation for Scott will be Tuesday, February 5, from 12:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home at 12444 Olive Street Road in Creve Coeur. Visitation at 9:30 am and Catholic Mass at 11:00 am will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 6 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis 4431 Lindell Blvd at Newstead.  Immediately following Mass, burial, with full military honors, will be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery 2900 Sheridan Rd St Louis, MO.  A reception will be held at DeSmet Jesuit High School 233 N. New Ballas Road, Creve Coeur, MO following the burial.

Donations in Scott's name can be made to the following: Navy SEAL Foundation 1619 D Street Virginia Beach, Virginia 23459 or online at NavySealFoundation.org, DeSmet Jesuit High School, 233 N. New Ballas Road, St. Louis MO 63141 or online at Desmet.org or The Joshua Chamerberlain Society, P.O. Box 8475, Olivette, MO 63132 or online at chamberlainsociety.org.

ADDITIONAL PARKING & SHUTTLE SERVICE AVAILABLE

During Visitation on Tuesday, February 5th

St. Monica Church - 12136 Olive Blvd. (Southwest Corner of Olive and Highway 270)

KOHL'S - (Northwest Corner of Olive & Highway 270)