Gittinger, Fern M. 1903-1994

GITTINGER, MENDENHALL, NELSON, JOHNSON, MC KINLEY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/16/2007 at 07:48:58

Fern M. Gittinger

Funeral services for Fern M. McKinley Gittinger, 90, of East Town Apartments, a resident of Newton since 1992, were held today, June 11, at the Reese Chapel.

The Rev. Todd Schlitter, associate pastor of the First United Methodist Church, conducted services. Graveside rites were held at Leon Cemetery.

She died Friday morning at Skiff Medical Center.

Memorials to the Fellowship of John Ramsey Home in Des Moines or Hospice of Jasper County will be accepted.

Survivors are two daughters, Lila Mendenhall of Kellogg and Mary Lou Nelson of Ames; four grandchildren; two great-grandchidren; and a sister, Louise Kelly of Rockwall, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel, in 1954, her parents, a twin brother, Forest, two other brothers, Dan and Carl, and three sisters, Lila, Frances and Page.

Mrs. Gittinger was a member of the Highland Park Christian Church in Des Moines and attended the First United Methodist Church in Newton since 1992, was active in 4-H and Farm Bureau and the Red Cross during World War II, and was a volunteer for Ramsey Home in Des Moines and various hospitals in Des Moines.

She had taught school in the Decatur County Rural School System and in Colesburg, Leon and Saydel schools before retiring from Saydel in 1963.

The daughter of Harmon and Nettie Johnson Mc Kinley, she was born Dec. 21, 1903 in Leon, was graduated from Leon High School, attended the University of Northern Iowa at Cedar Falls and received a degree in education from Drake University in Des Moines in 1956.

She was married to Daniel Gittinger March 7, 1935.

Mrs. Gittinger resided in Des Moines prior to coming to Newton had been at Careage of Newton for the past six weeks.

Newton (IA) Daily News, July 8, 1994.