Bruce Pettitt

Bruce Pettitt, 58, of Carroll, died peacefully early Monday morning, March 5, 2012, surrounded by his family at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll. Officiating will be Pastor Brian Licht. Organist will be Tami Biggerstaff and soloist will be Dina Newsom. Honorary Casket Bearers will be: Mike Franey, Mike Riddle, Pat Malloy, Jeff Christianson, Mal Foley, Mark Tigges, Tom Louis, dear friends Dave Auen and Chuck Ware who have gone before him, and all who became friends with Bruce through golfing, bowling and softball. Casket Bearers will be nieces and nephews: Ben Pettitt, Nate Pettitt, Wade Pettitt, Kirby Pettitt, April Marquardt, Brandy Marquardt, Sara Pettitt, and Jill Pettitt. Burial will be in the Carroll City Cemetery. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 p.m. on Thursday where there will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Paul Lutheran Church at 9 a.m. on Friday where visitation will resume until time of the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left at the funeral home or at the church for St. Anthony Hospital Pastoral Care. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Bruce’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com. Born on October 7, 1953, in Norfolk, Nebraska, Bruce was the son of Delbert and Eileen (O’Brien) Pettitt. He was baptized on October 25, 1953, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Norfolk. He spent his early childhood in Norfolk and in 1965 his family moved to Carroll. He was confirmed into the Lutheran faith on May 7, 1967, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll. Bruce graduated from Carroll High School in 1971. He was married to Janea Ringleb in Des Moines, Iowa; to this union was a daughter, Tricia Sue. Bruce owned and operated Kelly’s Shoe Store from 1975-1985. He worked with his father for the “Nifty Biffy” portable toilet business, and after his father’s death he continued to operate the business until 2008. Bruce also worked alongside his father and his brother Todd at Highway 30 Carwash. Bruce loved sports and was a professional bowler. He competed against pros such as Pete Weber, and also bowled in the National Bowling Tournament for 34 years. In his bowling career, he had 6 perfect 300 games. Bruce was also an avid golfer and competed in many golfing events at the local and state level, with a couple of holes-in-ones to his credit. He was a member of the Carroll Country Club, and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll. Bruce was the number one supporter of his nieces and nephews with their activities, and caddied many times for his nephews throughout their golfing careers. He loved to socialize with his many friends. But Bruce’s true happiness was traveling to Las Vegas and visiting his daughter and her family there. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandson, Zachary, who brought him great joy. Whether it was on the golf course or playing softball or bowling, Bruce was a competitor, just as he was with his courageous battle with cancer. He never lost his positive attitude or his zest for life. He touched the lives of many people and maintained his trademark sense of humor until the end. Bruce is survived by his daughter, Tricia Pettitt and her husband, Scott Schiefer, and their son Zachary of Henderson, NV; his mother Eileen Pettitt of Carroll; his sister, Sue Marquardt and her husband Jeff of Carroll; his brother, Todd Pettitt and his wife Pam of Carroll; his nephews and nieces: Ben (Emily) Pettitt, Tiff (Dan) Briggs, Nate (Sarah) Pettitt, Wade Pettitt, Kirby Pettitt, Kristen Pettitt, Sara Pettitt, Jill Pettitt, Jace Pettitt, Josie Pettitt, Gabe Pettitt, Grace Pettitt, April Marquardt, and Brandy Marquardt, and nine great nieces and nephews. Bruce was preceded in death by his father Delbert Pettitt in 1998; his grandparents: Roy and Elsie Pettitt, and Harold and Erma O’Brien; and his good friends, Dave Auen and Chuck Ware.

Bruce Pettitt

October 7, 1953 - March 5, 2012