Pitzer, Mildred Joyce Knudson (1923-2017)

PITZER, KNUDSON, ROMP, DOUGLASS, COBURN, JUNGERS, BAKER, TESDAL, HEEREN, OLSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:02

South Hamilton Record News, Jewell, Iowa, October 11, 2017

Mildred Joyce (Knudson) Pitzer was born to Inez (Romp) Knudson and Rufus Knudson on March 6, 1923, on the family farm southwest of Jewell IA. She was baptized and confirmed in the Grace Evangelical Church in Story City IA. Her grade schooling was provided by the country school and the Randall school; she graduated with the class of 1940 at Jewell High School where she was given the name "Mickie" by her classmates.

Mickie worked for the Donnelly Corporation in Nevada IA until her marriage to Homer B. Pitzer of Ellsworth, Iowa on August 16, 1944, in the Bethesda Lutheran Church of Jewell. To this union two sons were born.

She was a wife, mother and grandmother who provided support to all. Her baking skills were especially appreciated by Homer and Russell Wilcox as they established the Jewell Allis-Chalmers Implement business in the late 1940s. Her creativity was exemplified in her musical talent as she played the baritone in 4-H County Band and the church organ for the Federated Church in Jewell. Her cake decorating skills were enjoyed by family members throughout the years and later as a small business owner creating wedding cakes while living in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The family moved to Scottsdale, AZ in July of 1959. She, her husband and sons soon adapted to their new western home. Camping trips, boating outings and picnics with the family and newly established friends became the norm. A mountain retreat provided many summer outings of enjoyment with her husband, sons and wives, and grandchildren. Her ready smile and sweet laugh endeared her to her family and friends.

On Friday September 29, 2017, Mickie passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Hospice of the Valley in Chandler AZ.

Those left to cherish her memory are her son Gene and wife Louise Pitzer of Gold Canyon AZ; daughter-in-law Diane Pitzer of Mesa AZ; grandchildren Michael and wife Natalie Pitzer of Chandler AZ and Lauri and husband Jack Douglass of San Tan Valley AZ; great-grandchildren Jayden and Brook Douglass of San Tan Valley, AZ and Raigan and Colton Pitzer of Chandler AZ; cousins Karen (Doden) Coburn of Radcliffe IA and Marcia (Doden) Jungers of Tulsa OK and their families; cousins Jess Romp and wife Charlotte of Ellsworth IA and Linda (Romp) Baker of Huxley IA; cousins Don Romp of Alelanto CA and Wayne Romp of Stanhope IA, and their famnilies; God-daughter Janis (Tesdal) Heeren; Emmett Olson of Story City IA; and several nieces, nephews and extended family.

Mickie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Homer and son Bruce.