Scottsbluff Star Hearld Scottsbluff, NE 5 Jun 2007 Brandon James Wertz, 25, of Scottsbluff passed away Sunday, June 3, 2007 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff after a courageous battle with auto immune hepatitis. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 11, at the American Legion Hall in Alliance. Abiding by his wishes, cremation has taken place at the Jolliffe Funeral Home Crematory. Memorials are asked to be made to the family. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.jolliffefuneralhome.com Brandon was born Dec. 3, 1981 in Kimball to Allen and Mitzi (Starke) Wertz. He graduated from Kimball High School with the Class of 2000. Brandon is survived by his mother and step-father Mitzi and Dwight Knaub of Scottsbluff and Alliance; father and step-mother, Allen and Lisa Wertz of Wichita, Kan.; grandparents, Rudy and Pat Starke of Alliance and Jim and Joy Wertz of Kimball; step-grandmother, Wilma Knaub of Alliance; half-sister and brother-in-law, Heather and Kevin Hinzman of Wheat Ridge, Colo.; half-brother, Justin Wertz of Wheat Ridge, Colo.; step-sister, Kelly Robinson of Alliance; step-sister and brother-in-law, Eva and Mike Russell of Alliance; step-brother and sister-in-law, Casey and Misty Knaub of Alliance; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. His half-brother Jared Wertz preceded Brandon in death.