Walter "Dick" Wittrock

Walter “Dick” Wittrock

Sanborn, Iowa

            Funeral services for Walter “Dick” Wittrock, age 98, of Sanborn, formerly of Primghar who passed away on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Prairie View Home in Sanborn.  His funeral service will be 10:30 A.M. on Friday, April 7, 2023, at the United Church of Primghar with Pastor Mike Cooper ~ officiating.

            To view Dick's livestream, please register at: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=5e39ffbb-0578-4394-a494-faf2851a372c

            Burial with military honors will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Primghar.

            Visitation with family present will be from 5 – 7 P.M. on Thursday, April 6, 2023, at the Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Primghar.

Walter ‘Dick’ Wittrock, was born November 17, 1924 on the family farm in Dale Township southwest of Primghar, to Hugo and Clara (Kock) Wittrock.  He attended country school and graduated from Primghar High School in 1942.  He furthered his education by attending business school in Sioux City until being called into the US Army in 1943.

Dick served two years in Europe, participating in three campaigns: the Landing in Normandy, the drive across Northern France, and the Battle of the Bulge.  He was honorably discharged in December 1945, achieving the rank of Sergeant.  Later in 2017 Leona helped him write down and compile some of his military experiences in “My Part in WWII—Stories by Walter “Dick” Wittrock”.

He was united in marriage to Leona Mattice on November 7, 1948 in the Methodist Church of Primghar.  They were blessed with five sons—Glen, Daniel, Fred, Jay and Rex.  They were married 73 years when Leona passed in December 2021.

Dick began farming on the Brainerd land southwest of Primghar in 1948.  In 1951 they moved to a farm north of Primghar on Highway 59 where they resided for many years.  The last few years of retirement were spent at Prairie View in Sanborn where they enjoyed the activities and company of the residents.  This was an opportunity for Leona to share her talents and poems; and Dick shared numerous WWII stories with the staff.

Farming was Dick’s heart and passion.  It brought him great pleasure to help prepare the fields for planting in the spring and reaping the harvest in the fall.  He never really retired from farming—and was seen driving the tractor even into his 90’s. He was a member of The United Church of Primghar and served on many of the church offices.  He was proud of his military service and being a member of the Primghar Legion Post, serving as Legion commander several times.

Dick enjoyed playing American Legion baseball at Hartley in the early 40’s and pitching for the Primghar semi-pro team in the 50’s.  He also enjoyed traveling, hunting and their yearly September fishing trips to northern Minnesota.  He watched sports on TV—especially Minnesota Twins baseball.  He also enjoyed making things out of wood; spending time with his family; antiquing with Leona; and precious time with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his sister Marge (Leon) Hunt; sons Glen Wittrock, Sioux Falls, SD; Daniel (Ladonna) Wittrock, Primghar; Fred Wittrock, Primghar; and Rex (Becky) Wittrock, Marion, IA.  Four grandchildren; Debra Wittrock, Spencer; Laura (Matt) Ballew, Tulsa, OK; Adam Wittrock, Primghar; and Faith Wittrock, Sioux Falls, SD.

He is preceded in death by his wife Leona; a son, Jay Leonard; brothers, Donald (Arlene) Wittrock, Ervin Wittrock and Vernon (Ruth) Wittrock; Sisters Wilma (Wessel) Rippentrop, Helen (John) Hanson, and Arlene (Everett) Brown.