Fredrick August Wittrock, the son of Frank and Rosa (Drees), was born May 12, 1924, one mile south of Halbur, in Carroll County, Iowa and died December 16, 2022, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 98 years, 7 months, and 4 days.
Fred spent his younger years growing up in the Halbur community where he attended St. Augustine School. Following his formal education, he worked at home and as a hired man for neighboring farmers until he was inducted into the U.S. Army. Fred entered the service during WWII in 1944. His basic training was done at Fort Hood, Texas. Fred then was shipped to Manilla where his unit guarded over 50, 000 Japanese prisoners. They then loaded 2500 prisoners on Liberty ships headed for Formosa and Japan. Fred was transferred to the 24th Division in Japan where he ran a stockade and his office transferred prisoners where he was stationed until he was honorably discharged in 1946 as a Sergeant from the U.S. Army. Fred returned to the states and worked for Franzwa Welding.
On March 31, 1948, he was united in marriage to Lucille Renze at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Carroll, Iowa. They were blessed with three children Danny, Kenny, and Janice. Following their marriage, they lived in Carroll until1950 when they moved to the farm near Roselle, Iowa. In 1954 they moved to Audubon County where they purchased their farm. They grew row crops and raised livestock for many years until they retired from farming and moved into their new home in Audubon, Iowa in 1997.
Fred was an active member of St. Patrick’s Church where he served on the financial board, cemetery board and also served as a Eucharist Minister. He an active member of the V.F.W. and the American Legion. He was a 4th Degree in the Knights of Columbus and enjoyed participating in the many activities. He held positions on the ASC Board and the Hamlin School Board.
Fred loved spending time with his family and visiting his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Fred loved farming and received a conservation award in 2012. He enjoyed dancing, traveling with his camper, playing cards, and riding his motorcycle.
Preceding him in death were his grandsons Christopher Wittrock and John Vonnahme; his parents; his sisters and brothers Lucina and husband Wilber Truhe, Regina and husband Clarence Reineke, Robert Wittrock, Elvera and husband Andrew “Sonny” Daniels, and an infant brother Raymond Wittrock and his sister-in-law JoAnn Wittrock.
Survivors include his wife Lucille Wittrock of Audubon, Iowa; his children Danny and wife Yvonne Wittrock of Hamlin, Iowa, Kenny and wife Pam Wittrock of Carroll, Iowa, and Janice and husband Dave Vonnahme of Vail, Iowa; 12 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren; his sister and brothers Verna Mayer of Carroll, Iowa, Harold Wittrock of Templeton, Iowa, Roman and Verena Wittrock of Carroll, Iowa; his sisters-in-law Regina Schultes of Carroll, Iowa Arlene Wittrock of Mt. Carmel, Iowa many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
The family will greet friends on Monday evening, December 19, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father David Nkrumah on Tuesday morning, December 20, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery south of Audubon. The casket bearers will his grandchildren Elizabeth Wittrock, Christine Feit, Mike Wittrock, Mark Wittrock, Eddie Vonnahme, and Joe Vonnahme.
