Michael Wittrock

Michael August Wittrock beloved husband and father, age 94, of Carroll, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll. The youngest son of Henry Wittrock and Anna Springer Wittrock, Mike was born May 13, 1913 in the small town of Okarche, Oklahoma where he graduated from high school. His parents died when he was young and he was raised by his sister Theresa along with his brothers and sisters. He worked for the family business in Oklahoma which brought him to Carroll, where he met his future bride, Alberta Marcucci, at the Carroll Candy Kitchen. They were married October 12, 1937 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Carroll with Rev. Schenkleberg presiding. The couple had their 70th wedding anniversary last year. In 1935 Mike went to work as a salesman for his cousin, Kelly Stallman at Stallman Motor Company in Carroll. The original dealership sold Chrysler, Plymouth, Desoto, and Packard cars as well as Norge appliances. At the time, Carroll had three Plymouth dealerships. The original dealership was located on the west side of Carroll Street, just south of Highway 30. He bought the dealership in 1939, and it is still in continuous family ownership today, a period of nearly 70 years. Wittrock moved his dealership temporarily to the east side of Carroll at Hwy 30 and Grant Road in 1969, and in 1970 bought a familiar and historic building from Mort Macke, which was previously occupied at the time by McCoy Motors. That building, which is at Hwy 30 and North Carroll Street, housed the dealership until 2005, when Mike’s son and grandson moved to the new facility which anchors the West side of Carroll at Hwy 30 and 71. Wittrock sold the dealer to his son Michael, who with his wife Ingrid restored the old Macke building. The historic structure is the only remaining double canopy brick gas station in Iowa. That building is now being converted to the Santa Maria Winery and restaurant, continuing its notable history. In 2008, Michael transferred the dealership to his son, Kevin Wittrock, Mike’s grandson, continuing the family business into the next generation. Mike closed the dealership from 1941 through 1945 during World War II, and served his country in a defense plant in California building airplane engines. After the War he returned to re-open the dealership. While building the Wittrock Motors business, Mike served on the Carroll County Board of Assessors office for many years. He also was a member of the Airport Commission. For many years he also managed several farms which he bought over the years. Mike is well known as an avid and outstanding golfer, with many trophies from tournaments. He was ‘shooting his age’ into his 70’s and was a regular at the Carroll Country Club as well as a participant in many tournaments around Western Iowa. In 2006, in recognition of his many years contributing to the Carroll community, Mike was honored as the Grand Marshall of Carroll Band Day. He was active for many years at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll, and was a familiar figure as an usher on most Sundays. Mike is survived by his wife Alberta of Carroll; five children, Diane Collison of Chicago, Illinois, Michael E. Wittrock and his wife Ingrid of Carroll, Linda Rogers of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Lucia Patzelt and her husband Dr. Lawrence of Grand Rapids Michigan, and David Wittrock and his wife Barbara of Hillsborough, California; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren, and a sister-in-law Jeanie Marcucci of Pensacola, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, 7 brothers, 3 sisters, and one brother-in-law. Mass of the Christian Burial be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll with Rev. Timothy Schott as celebrant. Lectors for the mass will be Alex Collison, Julia Patzelt, David Wittrock, and Michael Collison. Gift bearers will be Natalie Collison, Abby wittrock, and Avery Wittrock. Eucharistic ministers will be Betty Pollastrini, Jean Knobbe, Ken Shibita, and Maria Shibata. Music will be by the St. Lawrence Celebration Choir and flutist Emily Patzelt. Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll after 4:00 P.M. on Friday where there will be a Christian Wake Service at 6:30 P.M.. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. Casket bearers will be grandchildren: Charles Collison, Nicholas Collison, Edward Patzelt, Dominic Provopulos, Robert Provopulos, and Kevin Wittrock. Honorary casket bearers will be Mark Beardmore, Dr. William Blohm, Dr. William Erps, John Heider, Dr. Urban Knobbe, James Kanne, John Longnecker, Leo Mayr, Raymond Pollastrini, Gerald Rettenmaier, Ken Shibata, Archie Schug, Gus Schroeder, and Dr. James Tierney. In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorials be made to St. Anthony Regional Hospice, Kuemper Catholic Schools, St. Anthony Nursing Home or New Hope Village.