BITTNER, Zoe ca1873-1945

BITTNER, FUNSTON, HUCKINS, ROWLEY, LAWS, KRIEGER, KEMP

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 1/9/2011 at 14:08:41

Mrs C. I.Bittner
Rites Conducted
Tuesday Afternoon

Death Occured Sunday
In Home On Same
Site As Birthplace

Mrs. Charles I. Bittner, 72, died at her home here about 5:30 Sunday morning, Oct. 7, after having been confined to her bed by illness for the past 14 months. Her death had been considered imminent for several days, since she had suffered a cerebral hemmorhage Friday morning.

Funeral services were held at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 9, at the Bittner home with the Rev. Rumford, pastor of the Baptist church in Mason City, in charge. Two hymns, "In The Garden" and "The Old Rugged Cross" were sung by Mrs. O. L. Hansen and Miss Janice Tatum, with Mrs. K. S. Shanks as accompanist. Floral arrangements were made by Mrs. Carl Behene, Mrs. J. A. Clough and Mrs. Mildred Drake. Pall bearers were Al Chapman, R. L. Bellows, O. W. Morphew, Frank Brunner, E. A. Brown and William Quinlan. Interment was made in Park cemetery.

Mrs Bittner, nee Zoe Funston, was born at Nora Springs Oct. ---- one of four children of Louis R. and Minerva Huckins Funston. The house in which she was born stood on the same site as the present Bittner home, where her death occured only four days before her 73rd birthday.

She was married to Charles Bittner at Mason City Thursday, Nov. 29, 1988, and to this union three children were born: Roy, a veteran of World War I, now deceased; Lloyd now living in Los Angeles, Calif.; and Helen, Mrs.Ralph Rowley, of Nora Springs. Survivors in addition to the widower and two children include four grandchldren, Mrs. Dorothy Laws and Mrs Elaine Kreiger, both of Los Angeles; Margaret Jean Rowley of Nora Springs, and S/Sgt.Charles F. Rowley, now in France. The latter's last visit at home was at Christmas of 1943 and his grandmother's dearest wish was that she might live to see him again. There is also one brother, Howe Funston of Cherokee, and three great grandchildren. Her brother, William, and one sister, Mrs. Beebe Funston Kemp, both died several years ago.

In compiling the obituary, a friend of the family wrote, "Of this good woman it may well be said that she loved her home, being a devoted wife and mother; loved her friends, being a member of the local Order of Eastern Star, the Optimistic club and the American Legion Auxiliary; and loved her church, becoming a member of the local Baptist church and having been baptized at Nora Springs on March 7, 1888."

An important event in the lives of Mr.and Mrs. Bittner was the observance of their golden wedding anniversary on Nov. 29, 1938, at which time open house was held and the hordes of well-wishers who called gave ample evidence of high esteem in which they were held in the community.

Among the relatives from a distance who attended the Bittner funeral here Tuesday afternoon were Mr. and Mrs. Harry Schremser of Decorah, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Funston and Mr. and Mrs. H.Clay Funston of Cherokee, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Krasky of Mitchell S. Dak, and Len Siewert of Minneapolis.

(1945)