Ralph Pitz

Ralph P. Pitz age 93 of New Hampton died Sunday, March 9, 2014, at Linn Haven Rehab and Healthcare in New Hampton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 14, 2014, at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph Center, New Hampton with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Hampton with Jennifer Sheehan, Melissa Shollenbarger, Laura Reisner, Robyn Pitz, MaryBeth Brandenburg, Kristopher Gebert, Sarah Norgard and Karen Norgard serving as pallbearers. Friends may greet the family 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 13, 2014, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton. A 6:00 p.m. Scripture Service will also be held Thursday evening at the funeral home. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Friday. Ralph Peter Pitz was born February 24, 1921, in New Hampton, IA, the son of Paul and Mary (Weiman) Pitz. He received his education at St. Mary’s Catholic School in New Hampton. While attending a dance in Lawler, he met his future wife, Dorothy Wilson. The couple were married on June 6, 1946, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler. To this union three children were born. Ralph and Dorothy began farming in the Lawler and Boyd, IA, areas until the mid 1960’s when Ralph chose to begin his truck driving career. Ralph drove trucks for nearly forty-five years for numerous businesses. Ralph drove for Haberly and Galen’s Hatcheries, Bob Boos at the Swift buying station, the Lowe Brothers Trucking, Boeding Trucking and the Daily Trucking of Charles City. It wasn’t until the age of 87 when he finally decided to retire. Ralph’s beloved wife, Dorothy, died on August 26, 2010 at the age of 84. Due to his declining health, he became a resident of Linn Haven in January of 2014. Survivors include one son, Paul (Lois) Pitz of New Hampton; two daughters, Peg Norgard of Alaska, Nancy (Tom) Kiley of Perry, IA; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Sheehan, Melissa Shollenbarger, Laura Reisner, Robyn Pitz, MaryBeth Brandenburg, Kristopher Gebert, Sarah Norgard and Karen Norgard; six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one sister, Arlene Throndson; three brothers, Edmund Pitz, Elmer Pitz and Greg Pitz.