DARWIN "Dean" MITTS 1926-2007

KELL, MITTS, WEDO, PERETTO, NADING, BRAINARD, CONNER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/27/2007 at 09:26:11

Dean Mitts, 81, Clermont

Services for Dean Mitts, 81, were held Saturday, May 12, at 11 a.m. in the West Clermont Lutheran Church. Reverend Dwight Albers officiated. Organist was Sarah Strong. Inurnment was in God's Acres Cemetery at Clermont. The Schutte Funeral and Cremation Service of Clermont was in charge of arrangements.

Darwin "Dean" Mitts was born Jan. 5, 1926, at Williamstown, Missouri, to Eddie Pearl and Bertha Melvina (Kell) Mitts. He passed away Tuesday, May 8 in Palmer Lutheran Health Center at West Union.

He was baptized as a child in a Baptist Church in Missouri. He attended school near his home. Dean served in the U. S. Army during World War II.

Sept. 9, 1950, Dean married Irene Mae (Wedo) Mitts in the Parsonage of the West Clermont Lutheran Church. They had eight children.

Dean drove a truck for the Hygrade Plant in Postville. He also operated the Valhalla restaurant and bar in Clermont. During the summer months he worked with heavy equipment for a local construction company. He retired following his job with Hawkeye Sanitation.

Dean was a member of the West Clermont Lutheran Church and the American Legion. He enjoyed watching Hawkeye Basketball and was an avid Atlanta Braves Baseball fan. His favorite pastime was attending the sports activities of his children and grandchildren and having them around him.

Surviving are his wife, Irene, seven children: Patty (Robert) Peretto, of Whitefish, Mont., Judy (Terry) Nading, of Oelwein, Marsha (Chuck) Brainard, of Postville, Charles (Lennis) Mitts, of Cedar Rapids, Bob (Sue) Mitts, of West Union, Jerry (Tracy) Mitts, of Clermont, Rich Mitts, of Clermont, and a daughter-in-law, Tamra Mitts, of West Union; 18 grandchildren: David Dean Peretto, Shawn Peretto, Monty Peretto, Jodi (Jason) Meyer, Denelle (Dave) Stokes, Jenny (Josh) Nading, Deann (Andy) Brainard, Dawn Ann (Mike) Robinson, Jessica (Jason) Henry, Joshua (Kristin) Hanson, Marcus (Faith) Mitts, Megan (Jason) Mitts, Andy Mitts, Whitley (Jason) Mitts, Zachary Mitts, Caitlyn Mitts, Alison Mitts, Trevor Mitts; 14 great grandchildren; one sister, Billie Conner, of Cedar Rapids, one brother, Doc (Judy) Mitts, of Boaz, Ala., and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, a son, William Mitts (Marsha's twin), a son-in-law, Steve Owen, four brothers, Homer, Jasper, Floyd, and Walt, three sisters, Wanna, Rusty, and Imogene.

Elgin Echo newspaper, May 15, 2007