Wittenburg, Harold

Harold Wittenburg, 90, of Marion, formerly of Coggon, died Sunday, July 8, 2012, at Linn Manor Care Center, Marion, due to complications of Parkinson's disease. Funeral Service: 10 a.m. Friday, July 13, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, by Pastor Timothy C. Miller. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral Home in Marion. Burial: Lenox Cemetery, Norway, Iowa. Military Honors by Coggon American Legion Post #362.

He is survived by his son, David (Nancy) Wittenburg of Marion; daughter, Judy (Fred) Younger of Nora Springs; three grandchildren, Davy Wittenburg, Wendy (Cary) Crow and Cole Younger; and his dear great-grandsons, Emerson and Avery Crow.

Also surviving are his sisters and brothers-in-law, Louella Wittenburg, Arlene Wear, Marge Beatty, Delores Rawson, Virginia Alberts, Bertha Reinhart, Eleanor Uthoff, David and Francis Uthoff and Duane Bliss; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; brothers, Everett and Fredrick; infant brother, Clarence; brothers-in-law, Walter Uthoff, Kenneth Wear, John Beatty, Bill Rawson, Edward Alberts and Harry Reinhart; sisters-in-law, Helen Wittenburg and Maxine Bliss; nephews, Don Wittenburg, Neil Denson, Duane Uthoff and David Bliss; and niece, Gertrude Borgman.

Harold was born Oct. 24, 1921, in rural Iowa County, the son of Henry and Grace (Kottmeier) Wittenburg. He grew up in the Norway/Watkins area. Harold served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and was part of the occupation force in Japan from 1944 to 1946, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant in the motor pool. He married Dorothy Uthoff on Aug. 29, 1945. Harold was a lifelong farmer and farmed in the Fairfax area until 1963, when he purchased a farm near Coggon, and lived there until his retirement. He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Ryan, a past member of the Linn County Pork Producers Association and current member of Coggon American Legion Post #362. Harold loved God, his family and his farm. He lived his faith every day and was a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather, neighbor and friend.

Memorials may be directed to Discovery Living, 1015 Old Marion Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402; Arc of East Central Iowa, 680 Second St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401; or a charity or organization of your choosing.

The family would like to thank Dr. Mary Ann Nelson and the entire staff at Linn Manor Care Center for the expert care and the boundless kindness that Harold received over these past years.

Please sign the online guest book for Harold at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette July 10, 2012.