OBITUARY: Rueben Wittenburg, 1928-2004, Mitchell Co., Iowa

[Adapted from Mitchell County Press online, Feb. 4, 2004]



                         Rueben Wittenburg

Funeral services for Rueben Wittenburg, age 75, of Osage, Iowa, were
held Monday, Feb. 2, 2004 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Osage.
The Reverend Dennis Hanson and Reverend Roy Ott Officiated. Interment
was in the Osage Cemetery, with Military Honors by Osage American
Legion Post 278. Rueben died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004 at MCRHC-Hospital
in Osage.

Rueben Wittenburg was born Aug. 9, 1928 in Maxfield Township near
Readlyn, Iowa, the son of August and Martha (Ruehs) Wittenburg. He
attended Klinger Parochial School and graduated from Readlyn High
School. After graduation he continued to work at Vic's Food Market
in Readlyn. He was then drafted into the Army in November of 1950
and fought in the Korean War. He was discharged in August of 1952.

Rueben married Lois Whitnabel Aug. 16, 1953 at Sumner, Iowa. After
marriage, he attended Barber College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Rueben
and Lois moved to Osage in November of 1959, where he owned and
operated Wittenburg Barber Shop until his death. Rueben enjoyed
his fishing trips to Canada, gardening and helping his kids with
their various repairs and remodeling projects.

He was a member of the Osage American Legion Post 278 and the Osage
VFW Post 7920. He was also a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church
in Osage.

Rueben was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Raymond
Wittenburg and two sisters Lucinda Happel and Berdine (Buhr) Watts.

He is survived by his wife Lois Wittenburg of Osage, two children
Clark Wittenburg and his wife Mary of Osage and Stefanie Gatica and
her husband Armando and their sons Jayden and Devin and daughter Haley
of Ankeny, Iowa, and a sister-in-law Marie Wittenburg of Fairbank, Iowa.


    Copyright 2004, K.L. Kittleson