Louis “Lou” LeRoy Wittry, age 84, of Carroll, IA, passed away on Sunday, January 2, 2022 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll surrounded by his family.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, January 6, 2022 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll with Fr. Kevin Richter as Celebrant. Lector for the Mass will be Mike Tjarks, Greg Messmore and Julie Wittry. Gift bearers will be Haley Messmore, Averi Tjarks, Samantha Fredericksen, and Mia Wittry. Eucharistic Minister will be Don Stracke. Casket bearers will be Aaron Tjarks, Christian Wittry, Steve Wiederin, Tony Derner, Dale Derner, John Derner, and Pat Derner. Burial will be in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Mt. Carmel.
Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home after 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday where there will be a Christian Wake Service held at 6:30 P.M. The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Church at 9:30 A.M. on Thursday where visitation without greeting the family will resume until 10:15 A.M.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for a later designation and memorials may be left with the funeral home or at the church.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
Lou was born on April 10, 1937 in Carroll, IA, and he was the son of Andrew and Leola (Wolterman) Wittry. He grew up west of Mt. Carmel where he graduated from high school in 1955. He worked for Paul and Waynes, Al’s Corner, and Pudenz Trucking following high school. He later worked for Schmitz Implement in Arcadia. Lou was married to Marie Hilda Stracke on April 11, 1959 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Perry and made their home in Breda for 12 years. They also lived in Iowa Falls, Pleasantville, and Armstrong. Lou and Marie operated Lou’s Food Center in Armstrong and moved back to Carroll in 2007. He enjoyed golfing, playing cards, selling Traeger Grills, socializing with his many friends and spending time with his family.
Lou is survived by his wife Marie of 62 years of Carroll; four children and their families: Linda Messmore (Greg) of Clear Lake, IA, Nancy Tjarks (Mike) of Ankeny; Karen Schumacher (Greg) of Springfield, TN, and Mark Wittry (Julie) of Ankeny; six grandchildren: Aaron Tjarks (Jessyca), Averi Tjarks, Haley Messmore (fiancé Alec McNamara), Christian Wittry (fiancée Tricia Posey), Samantha Fredericksen, and Mia Wittry; two great-grandchildren: Ruby and Theodora Tjarks; three sisters: Ruth Ann Bock of Hamlin, Vera Derner (Gene) of Dedham, and Marcia Wiederin (Gene) of Carroll; sisters-in-law Henrietta Sandbothe of Circle Pines, MN and Sam Long of Walla Walla, WA; two brothers–in-law Donald Stracke (Martha) of Perry and James Stracke (Mariana) Lanexa, VA; and several nieces, nephews, and cousin.
Lou was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Leola Wittry; his father and mother-in-law Alfons and Adella Stracke; a brother Arden Wittry; and a grandson A.J. Messmore; and other extended family members.