Russell Eugene Wittern

Little Rock, Iowa Russell Wittern, age 90 formerly of Little Rock, Iowa died Sunday, December 7, 2008 at the Sibley Nursing and Rehab in Sibley, IA. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Thursday, December 11th at First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, IA, with Rev. Scott Burdsall officiating. Burial will be at Pleasant View Cemetery in Little Rock. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 10th from 2:00 - 8:00 PM, with family present from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. Russell Eugene Wittern was born September 22, 1918 in Little Rock, IA to John and Nellie (Attlesea) Wittern. He was raised in the Little Rock area and graduated from Little Rock High School. Russell entered the United States Army in 1942 and served his country during WWII in the Aleutian Islands and the Philippine Islands of the South Pacific War Theatre. In December of 1945 he was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant. Upon returning from the war, he was united in marriage on July 7, 1946 to Joyce Houghton. The couple made their home in Little Rock. To this union 3 children were born, Barbara, Bruce and Faye. Russell was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock and a member of the American Legion Buss Johnson Post 316 of Little Rock for 60 years. He operated a caf in Little Rock for 17 years and Russell retired after working for Campbell Soup Company in Worthington as a timekeeper and receiving supervisor. Gardening was a favorite pass time for Russell. He was an avid gardener and always had beautiful flowers in his back yard in Little Rock as well as several other places throughout town. He and his wife loved to go for long walks around town and even out into the country. On October 16, 2000 Joyce died, ending their marriage of 54 years. Russells family will remember him as a loving and patient man. He will be greatly missed. Russell is survived by daughters, Barbara Wittern of Sibley, IA, Faye (Greg) Grave of George, IA and son, Bruce (Sue) Wittern of Adel, IA; Seven grandchildren; Nine great-grandchildren; brothers, Vinton (Barbara) Wittern of Brighton, CO, and Harold (Lorraine) Wittern of Sioux Falls; and many nieces and nephews and extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Nellie Wittern; his wife, Joyce; brothers, Art, Frederick, William, Daryl, Leonard; sisters, Ethel Remmers, Esther Onken, Elenor Henricks and two infant sisters, Elise and Lillian.