Michael Kitson

MICHAEL KITSON

Marengo

Michael E. Kitson, 63, of Marengo, died Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids from complications of a stroke. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Watkins, with Father Mark Ressler officiating. Burial: Bishop Cemetery, rural Marengo. Visitation: 2 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be contributed for a scholarship in his name, the Marengo Library, or the charity of the donor's choice.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce; his children, James Kitson (Yuka Takahara) of Oregon City, Ore., and Christina Kitson (John Kearbey) of Manhattan, Kan.; two grandchildren, Eliwen Kitson and Alexander Kearbey; his brothers, Peter (Sue) Kitson of Beaver Grove, Mich., Duane (Laura) Kitson of Prudenville, Mich., and Paul (Zettie) Kitson of Twining, Mich.; sisters, Cecelia King of Tacoma, Wash., Rosanne (Keith) Dowgialo of Warren, Mich., Marian Steele of Sommersville, W.Va., Lisa (Gary) Wilk of Tawas City, Mich., and Patricia (Kevin) VerSteeg of Phoenix, Ariz.; his foster mother, Charlotte Moore of Elkader; foster brothers, Aaron (JoLynn) Moore of Guttenburg and Chad Moore of Beijing, China; and his stepmother, Frankie Kitson of Standish, Mich.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents; his foster father, Larry "Smoke" Moore; a brother, George; and a sister, LynnAnne.

Michael Edward Kitson was born Jan. 23, 1952, in Pontiac, Mich., the son of George Edward and Romance Stalker Kitson. He graduated from Jefferson High School, Cedar Rapids, in 1971, and attended Kirkwood Community and Mount Mercy colleges, obtaining an associate degree and certification in electronics. Michael married Joyce Becker on Aug. 5, 1972, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Watkins.

In his teenage years he worked various service industry jobs. His fulltime employment history began with Dearborn Brass in the 1970s; he was a stay-at-home dad for several years; he worked at LaRay's Cleaners in Marengo, and lastly he was employed with Rockwell Collins for 14 years as an electronics test technician, retiring in May 2015.

Michael enjoyed bow hunting and black powder muzzleloading, camping, fishing, and morel mushroom hunting, which he was certified to sell. He was an amateur home builder, photographer and archaeologist. He liked to garden, and stargaze in his backyard. He also liked to make jewelry.

He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Watkins and the Local IBW 1362.

Online condolences may be sent to www.kloster funeralhome.com.