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Robert "Bob" Witzke, 74, of Newell died Sunday, June 23, 2024, at St. Luke's UnityPoint Hospital in Sioux City.
Funeral services will take place Thursday, June 27, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Newell. Burial will be in Newell Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 26, from 5-7 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake.
Robert August Witzke, born on Thanksgiving day, Nov. 24, 1949, to Wilbert and Emma Schroder Witzke. His parents were truly thankful as he was their only child born 19 years after they married.
He attended Newell Providence school his entire school life, graduating in 1968. He also attended Emmetsburg Community College for one semester where he met the love of his life, Kathleen Myers. They were married Nov. 29, 1969, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Newell.
Bob’s true passion in life besides family was farming. He spent his life providing for his family by farming his land between Albert City and Newell. He was also a lifelong member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Newell. He served his church as a Sunday School teacher, Trustee and most recently as an Elder.
Bob took great joy in his children and grandchildren in their school activities and their sports. He enjoyed going to their ball games for as long as he was able.
In recent years, he and Kathy enjoyed spending part of the winter in South Padre Island, Texas. If time permitted, extra days were spent on the journeys traveling through Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, enjoying the different cultures and food. He had many good memories of the time spent on the way to the island and during their stay.
Bob was preceded in death by his father Wilbert and mother Emma; his aunt Catherine; grandparents: August and Martha Witzke; and Peter and Florence Schroder. Also preceding were his uncles Raymond Schroder, who was killed in battle in the South China Sea during WWII, Laurence Schroder and George Schroder; aunt Lorraine Witzke; and cousins Velma, Keith and Ray.
Bob is survived by his wife Kathy and his three children: Delbert Witzke and his fiancée Roxanne Prescott; David Witzke and his wife Melissa (Reckamp); and daughter Jill Baron and her husband Nathan. Also surviving are grandchildren: Andrew Witzke, Austin and Skyler Witzke, Izak, Gunnar and Marshall Baron, and Sam Vander Vegte, and Maddie and Paul Lauman; and a great-granddaughter, Vivian Vander Vegte.
Also surviving are his aunt Melvina Westfall of Orange County, Calif.; and cousin Florence McCormack of Battle Lake, Minn.
His family would like to thank Dr. Marczewski and his staff, as well as staff at Loring Hospital, Buena Vista County Regional Medical Center, Buena Vista County Ambulance Service, June E. Nylen Cancer Center and St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City. Their kindness and comfort were greatly appreciated.
