John "Jack" Gitch

1947 - 2025

John "Jack" Gitch, 78, of rural Sumner, died Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics in Iowa City.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg with Rev. Ronnie Koch officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, November 4, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg and for one hour preceding services at the Church on Wednesday.

John August, son of Louis and Mary Elaine (McCue) Gitch was born July 19, 1947, in Sumner. He was baptized on August 24, 1947, and confirmed March 26, 1961, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. He attended Sumner and Fredericksburg schools and graduated from Sumner High School in 1965. Jack served in the United States Army from February of 1967 until being honorably discharged in February of 1969. He received a Purple Heart for his notable service. On November 16, 1969, he was united in marriage with Joyce Westendorf at St. John Lutheran Church-Buck Creek, rural Sumner. To this union four daughters were born, Laurie, Emily, Catherine and Julia. Jack was a dairy and grain farmer in the rural Sumner area his entire working life. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, where he held various offices, and a member of Thomas E. Woods Post #223, American Legion of Sumner. Jack loved attending his grandchildren's activities and was known to his family and friends for his sense of humor. He enjoyed his "fact finding trips" (driving the countryside, looking at crops and seeing changes to the farms) and traveling (primarily in a five-county radius).

Jack is survived by his wife, Joyce of Sumner; daughters, Laurie (Rich) Everhardt of Waverly, Emily (Ben) Wadsley of Marion and Catherine (Scott) Wedemeier of Maynard; nine grandchildren, Luke and Adam Everhardt, Corey, Juliet, and August Wadsley, Mae, Evan, Will, and Jed Wedemeier; mother, Elaine Gitch of Sumner; siblings, Nancy (Mike) Petersen of Sun City, Arizona, Joe (Joyce) Gitch of Coralville, Loren (Janet) Gitch of Sumner, Vince (Lynn) Gitch of Grapevine, Texas, Mark Gitch of Frederika, and Gretchen (Jim) Warkentin of North Liberty; and sister-in-law, Helen McClain of Waterloo.

He was preceded in death by his father, Louis Gitch; daughter, Julia; parents-in-law, Werner and Erna Westendorf; and sisters-in-law, Cindy Gitch, Leona Wedemeier and Marva Schellhorn.

Memorials may be made in Jack's name to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg or to the family for later designation.