Sitzmann, Eugene Robert 1959-2014

SITZMANN, NUEBEL, SCHWARZ, LANGEL

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 11/6/2014 at 11:08:42

LeMars Daily Sentinel
Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Gene Sitzmann, 55, of Le Mars, died suddenly, Friday, Oct. 17, 2014, from injuries sustained in a farming accident.

Eugene Robert Sitzmann was born May 9, 1959, in Le Mars, to Edward J. and Agatha (Nuebel) Sitzmann. Gene graduated from Gehlen Catholic High School in 1978. Following high school, Gene worked for Plueger Construction for a few years before farming full time.

Gene was united in marriage to Betty Schwarz on Sept. 11, 1982, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alton. Gene and Betty were blessed with four children: Kelly, Jessica, Dustin, and Jami. The couple raised their family on the family farm in America Township.

Along with farming, Gene was a cattleman.

Betty died Nov. 13, 2003.

Gene continued farming and later met and married a very special woman, Kathy (Kelly) Langel. Together they shared a loss of a spouse. Gene and Kathy later married on Feb. 29, 2008, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars.

Gene was a longtime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Trinity Council #1466, and the Plymouth County Cattleman's Association.

Along with being a father, husband, and farmer, Gene found time to enjoy life. He enjoyed golfing, local sports, Creighton Basketball games, hunting, 4-wheeling, riding his Harley, and traveling with family and friends.

Gene had a great sense of humor, oftentimes playing a prank or two on his friends.

Above all, his greatest joy in life was family; he enjoyed being "Dad and Papa Gene."

Survivors include his wife Kathy, of Le Mars; his children: Kelly DeRocher and her husband Adam, of Le Mars and their children Carter, Drake, Camden, and Madison, Jessica Sitzmann and her fiancé Andy Taiber, of Omaha, Neb., Dustin Sitzmann and his fiancé Abbey Frauendorfer, of Omaha, Jami Sitzmann, of Omaha, Bobbi Sitzmann and her husband Joe, of Le Mars and their children, Jami and Eli, Jared Langel and his wife Sarah, of Le Mars, and Megan Wold and her husband Andrew, of Davenport, and their son William. Gene is also survived by his mother, Aggie Sitzmann, of Le Mars; seven brothers: David (Margaret) Sitzmann, of Le Mars, Chuck (Ann) Sitzmann, of Rogers, Ark., Mark (Lana) Sitzmann, of Windsor, Colo., Neil Sitzmann, of Tucson, Ariz., Roger (Peg) Sitzmann, of Savage, Minn., Peter Sitzmann, of Rapid City, S.D., Jay (Christine) Sitzmann, of Le Mars; two sisters: Ann (Dan) Kurth, of Saginaw, Texas, and Sandra Sitzmann and Lawrence Kennedy, of Poulson, Mont.; nieces, nephews; several in-laws; and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Sitzmann Jr.; his wife Betty, on Nov. 13, 2003; and a brother, Doug Sitzmann.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars with the Rev. Kevin Richter officiating. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church with a 4 p.m. Knights of Columbus rosary followed by a 7 p.m. scriptural wake service. Visitation will continue Thursday morning from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Arrangements are with the Carlsen-Feuerstein Funeral Home of Le Mars.

Pallbearers will be Rick Kneip, Doug Langel, Doug Ruhland, Rick Hanson, Jeremy Sitzmann, Bruce Kellen, Scott Hoffman, Mike Langel, Scott Albert, and Chuck Reuter. Honorary casket bearers will be Carter DeRocher, Drake DeRocher, Camden DeRocher, Madison DeRocher, Jami Sitzmann, Eli Sitzmann, William Wold, Jacqueline Munoz, Alexander Munoz, and Jocelyn Munoz.

The Sitzmann family asks that memorials be directed to Gehlen Catholic Schools.