Emma Kitch

Emma Kitch, 91 of Carroll, and formerly of Rockford, Iowa, died Monday, May 28, 2012 at Regency Park Nursing Home in Carroll. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 1, 2012 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Carroll with Pastor Vic Johnson and Pastor David Bergstrom officiating. Organist will be Jan Potthoff. Special music will be by Emma’s children, Marilyn Marrs and John Kitch. Casket Bearers will be: Mark Marrs, A.J. Marrs, Doug Kitch, Michael Marrs, Aaron DeMoss, and Dennis Steele. Burial will be at 4 p.m. Friday at Riverside Cemetery in Rockford, Iowa. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 5 p.m. on Thursday where there will be a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to the church at 9:30 a.m. Friday where visitation will resume until time of the funeral service. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Emma’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com. Born on August 28, 1920 at Rockwell, Iowa, Emma was the daughter of Karl and Emma (Haller) Ficken. She grew up on a farm east of Rockwell and attended country school. On April 13, 1940 Emma married John Alfred “Al” Kitch at Waverly, Iowa. Al and Emma made their home in Plainfield for a brief time before spending most of their life in the Rockford Community. She had several jobs in the Rockford area most notably working at Bowen’s Grocery. While living in Rockford, Emma and Al helped raise two of their nephews, Larry and Wayne Ficken. In 1993 Al passed away and in 1995 Emma moved to the Carroll Community. While in Carroll she was a member of the St. John’s Lutheran Church where she was active in the welcome committee and the funeral committee where the ladies referred to her as the “cookie lady”, and also volunteered with the Share Program. Emma did not receive her driver’s license until the age of 69 when she took drivers education with the high school kids and always joked that she was at the top of the class. She loved her family and will always be known for her cinnamon rolls she made. Emma also enjoyed crocheting, crossword puzzles, but most of all enjoyed the time spent with her family. Survivors include her children, Marilyn (Jim) Marrs of Collins, and John (Jackie) Kitch of Carroll; six grandchildren: Penny DeMoss of Grimes, Mark (Angela) Marrs of Ottumwa, Debbie Marrs of Apache Junction, AZ, Meladee (Dennis) Steele of Woodward, A.J. (Jennifer) Marrs of Urbandale, and Doug Kitch of Cedar Falls; 9 great-grandchildren: David Marrs, Michael Marrs, Aaron DeMoss, Amanda DeMoss, Madison Steele, Payton Marrs, Dylan Steele, Samatha Marrs, and Sawyer Marrs; 6 great-great-grandchildren: Conrad Bringer, Brock Bringer, Emerson Marrs, Jordan Marrs, Jaxson Marrs, and Jayden Green; as well as several nieces and nephews. Emma was preceded in death by her parents; husband Al in 1993; granddaughter Dayle Kitch in 2007; two sisters: Anna Deverell and Mena Pecht; two brothers: Herb Ficken and Karl Ficken; and her parents-in-law, John and Harriet Kitch.

Emma Kitch

August 28, 1920 - May 28, 2012