Fitch, Keith Warren 1950-2003

FITCH, ALBERS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/11/2007 at 21:03:55

LE MARS, Iowa -- Keith W. Fitch, 52, of Le Mars passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2003, at a Sioux City hospital from respiratory complications following cancer therapy.

Graveside services will be 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Midway, Iowa. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 11 a.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church (LC-MS) in Le Mars, with the Rev. Larry Fett officiating. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 6 p.m., all at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars.

Keith Warren Fitch was born Nov. 14, 1950, on a farm near Correctionville, Iowa, to Warren Leslie and Dorothy (Albers) Fitch. He was baptized Nov. 28, 1950, at home and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ida Grove, Iowa, on May 16, 1965. He began his education in Correctionville and Ida Grove, before graduating from Battle Creek (Iowa) High School in 1969. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, in 1973. He began his teaching career in Alburnette, Iowa, before moving to Anthon, Iowa. During this time he started working on his master's degree at the University of Northern Iowa.

On June 28, 1975, he and Lola Fullmer were united in marriage at Peace Lutheran Church in Wall Lake, Iowa. They made their home in Anthon, where he taught chemistry, physics and math. Daughter, Abbey, was born in 1979, and son, Seth, was born in 1982. The couple and their children moved to Le Mars in 1985. He taught chemistry and math at Le Mars Community High School, as well as being involved in numerous school related functions. Teaching was his passion and he dedicated almost 30 years of his life to the students he instructed. For many years he was a crew supervisor for the Iowa Conservation Corps.

He was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church. He served on numerous boards and committees, as a Sunday School teacher, elder and chairman of the congregation. He enjoyed attending his children's activities, fishing, reading, family vacations and family gatherings. He also loved cruising in his new Mustang Convertible and listening to Alan Jackson and the Beach Boys.

Thankful to have shared his life are his wife, Lola of Le Mars; a daughter and her husband, Abbey and Matthew Ruden of Ames, Iowa; a son, Seth Fitch, who is a junior at the University of Northern Iowa; his mother, Dorothy Fitch of Battle Creek, Iowa; two sisters and their husbands, Karen and Ron Newman of Anthon, Iowa, and Carol and Jeff Grodahl of Lytton, Iowa; two brothers and their wives, Craig and Janet Fitch of Battle Creek and Sid and Amy Fitch of Spencer, Iowa; his in-laws, Lowell and Evelyn Fullmer of Arnolds Park, Iowa, LeeAnn Fullmer and her friend, Lonnie James of Omaha and Kevin and Cindy Fullmer of Denver, Colo.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Warren on Oct. 6, 1966; and his grandparents, Dietrich and Laura Albers and Leslie and Lola Mae Fitch.

[Part of the Darrell Easton Obit Collection; source: Sioux City Journal]