116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Shirley Jean (Brennaman) Pitts
Shirley Jean (Brennaman) Pitts
Apache Junction, AZ
Shirley Jean (Brennaman) Pitts was born in Urbana on November 10th, 1941. She Passed away peacefully on November 24th, 2025, at home, where she resided for the past 17 years, in Apache Junction, Arizona, following a long illness.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Donald and Leila Brennaman, sister Donna, brother Daryl, and husband of 64 years, Rudolph. She is survived by daughter Sheryl Cain and sons James Sr. (Amanda) Pitts, Justin (Anne) Pitts, and Jason (Callista) Pitts; 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
She retired as a transportation driver for a skilled nursing home and several years as a school bus driver in Arizona and Iowa; and manufactured aviation parts under their family business, Rush Enterprises.
They moved down to Apache Junction, Arizona, in 2008 following Rudy's retirement.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the main hall of The Lost Dutchman Manufactured Home Park on December 4th, from noon-2 pm.
Shirley's body has been donated to science.
Please, No Flowers. Cards and donations should be sent to Sheryl Cain (Pitts), 10936 East Apache Trail Lot #1033, Apache Junction, AZ 85120-3479.
Daily Newsletters