Francis Pitz

Hastings resident, Francis "Fran" J. Pitz, 86, passed away Sunday, May 8, 2016 at his home.

Rosary will be Thursday, May 12, 2016; 7:00 P.M. at Butler Volland Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, May 13, 2016; 10:00 A.M. at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Hastings with Father Michael Houlihan officiating. Burial with military rites by the Juniata American Legion be in Assumption Cemetery, Assumption. Memorials may be given to the family for a memorial to be established at a later date. Visitation will be Thursday, May 12, 2016; 3:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. with family present 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home, and one hour prior to service at the church.

Francis was born August 18, 1929 on a farm on Highway 6, rural Juniata to John & Christina (Parr) Pitz. He attended rural Assumption School until the 8th grade. He did not further his education as it was not required at that time. In 1948, he traveled to Illinois to visit family and met his future bride. He moved to Aurora, Illinois in 1949 and was married on September 2, 1950 to Dolores "Lorrie" White. He was drafted into the Army and served in Korea during the Korean War from 1952-1953. On dismissal from the Army he returned home to his job at Burgess Norton in Geneva, Illinois as a department head supervisor. He worked there for 42 years retiring in December of 1991. They had one daughter, Kathleen "Kathy" Trausch. Upon retirement, he and Lorrie moved to Hastings to be near Kathy and her family. Fran was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Hastings and was involved in church choirs in both Aurora and Hastings until recently. He was a 3rd Degree member of Knights of Columbus Council 10155. He was a member of WCU, American Luxemburger Club, VFW, Holy Name Society, and Marywood Gun Club. He has been a volunteer for Catholic Social Services, and enjoyed his Wednesday card group. Fran enjoyed spending time with his family, playing cards, hunting, woodworking, singing, playing the accordion and harmonica, and had a great sense of humor. He lovingly took care of his wife until her death on April 17, 2001.

Fran was preceded in death by his wife, Lorrie; infant grandson, Paul; four infant great-grandchildren; parents; brother, Leander, mother-in-law & father-in-law, Margaret & William White; Julia White; and brothers-in-law, Richard Douglas, Donald White, Wilbert Feltes, LeRoy White, Bernard White, Jerome White, Melvin White, and William White, Jr.

SURVIVORS:
Daughter & Spouse:
Kathleen & Norbert Trausch - Hastings, NE
Grandchildren & Spouses:
Carrie & Michael Edwards - Juniata, NE
Andrew & Erin Trausch - Roseland, NE
Kimberly Trausch - Lincoln, NE
Jordan Trausch - Lincoln, NE
Hope Trausch - Hastings, NE
Great-Grandchildren:
Zachery, Michaela & Katelyn Edwards
Nadia, Michael, Taiton, Brandon & Joslynn Trausch
Sisters:
Agatha Douglas - Aurora, IL
Alice White - North Aurora, IL
Janice Feltes - North Aurora, IL
Sisters-in-law:
Loretta White - Aurora, IL
Rosie Fidder - Dekalb, IL
Several Nieces, Nephews & Friends