Luella Gitch

Luella Gitch age 95 of Fredericksburg died Wednesday, August 18, 2010, at the New Hampton Care Center. Funeral services are 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 21, 2010, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg with Pastor Ronnie Koch officiating. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery with Dan Ellsworth, Darrell Ellsworth, Dale Ellsworth, Greg Gitch, Jeff Gitch, Tim Gitch, Aaron O’Day, Denny Degner and Daryl Degner serving as pallbearers. Friends may call 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the church. Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in Fredericksburg is in charge of arrangements. Luella was born June 20, 1915, in rural Chickasaw County near Williamstown, IA, the daughter of William and Pauline (Paulsen) Degner. She received her education in rural country school and later was then a housekeeper for Fredericksburg area families. On March 30, 1936, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg she married Paul W. Gitch. To this union two children were born. The couple farmed together in the Fredericksburg area until retirement. Paul died on June 14 , 2003 at the age of 92. Following the death of her husband, she became a resident of the New Hampton Care Center. Luella was legally blind the majority of her life yet she never let this affect all the things she enjoyed. She loved gardening, playing cards, attending church functions and time with her family. While at the New Hampton Care Center, she enjoyed her visits with Pastor Koch as well as her family and other relatives. Luella took an active role as a resident and was involved in many of the social activities at the care center. Survivors include one son, Don (Delores) Gitch of New Hampton; one daughter, Karen Ellsworth of New Hampton, ten grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; one brother, Harold (Delores) Degner of Des Moines; one sister, Lurline O’Day of Jacksonville, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and three sisters, Evelyn Hunt, Ruth Gruenberg and Gertrude Mikes.