Rex E. Ditto

Sibley, Iowa Rex Ditto, age 84 of Urbandale, IA, formerly of Sibley, IA died Saturday, June 16, 2012 at the Urbandale Nursing & Rehab Center in Urbandale, IA. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, June 19th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sibley, IA, with Rev. James Berka officiating. Burial will follow at Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church Tuesday morning at the church. Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley is in charge of services. Rex Eugene Ditto was born July 5, 1927 in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Oliver J. and Alvina (Carlson) Ditto. He was raised in Sibley, IA and graduated from Sibley High School in 1945. After graduation he entered the United State Navy on August 2, 1945 and was honorably discharged on August 2, 1946. He continued his education at South Dakota College in Brookings, SD and the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in June of 1951. After graduation, Rex joined his father in business with Osceola County Abstract Company, as a real-estate broker and insurance agent. On August 2, 1952 Rex was united in marriage to Elaine Sleeper at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sibley, IA. The couple was blessed with two children. Rex retired from the business in 1984. Rex also served as Osceola County Democratic Chairman for many years and was member of VFW and American Legion in Sibley. Rex and Elaine spent many winters in McAllen, TX area. They became Texas residents in 1992, residing at Pharr, TX for six months of the year and traveled in their motor home for the other six months. Rex enjoyed all sports as a spectator and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting ducks, geese and pheasants. He is survived by his wife, Elaine Ditto of Urbandale, IA; daughter, Linda Harness of Ames, IA; son, Jerry (Carla) Ditto of Annandale, MN; five grandchildren, Jeremy Ditto, Shane Harness, Jessica Ditto, Sondra Harness, and Joel Ditto; two great-grandchildren, Alex Ditto and Christian Ditto. He was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver OJ and Alvina Ditto. Memorial preferred to the Alzheimer's Association.