June Pitsenbarger went home to be with her heavenly father when she passed away Saturday, June 10, 2017, at the Rowley Memorial Masonic Community in Perry, Iowa.
Services for June were held Thursday, June 15 at 2 p.m. at the Perry Bible Church in Perry. Visitation was held from 1-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 14 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry, with family present from 5-7 p.m.
Words of comfort were given by the Rev. Charles Compton, and the eulogy given by Wendi Moody.
Honorary casket bearers were Wendi Moody, Jodi Jenkins, Mandi Orman, Trystan Pitsenbarger, Shasta and Chasity Moody, Kent Turner, Noah, Macey and Zoe Jenkins, Jarrett, Jacey, Jenner Orman, Denny Hollingsworth, Susan Blazer, Jerry and Jim Gortmaker, Jackie Ritchie, Kathy LeFleur, Jerry and Jane Allen, Brent and Kari Allen and “all of her friends and neighbors.”
Casket bearers were Steve Luellen, Terry Ritchie, Tim Luellen, Randy Schuhardt, Ron Row, Brent Halling, Bobby Taylor and Randy Dolch.
Music was provided by pianist Susan Beasley with her solo, “In the Garden.” Organist Karla Rogen joined in on a hymn with pianist Susan Beasley and French horn soloist Kari Allen, “Amazing Grace.” Congregational hymns shared were “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” and “Peace in the Valley.”
Interment for June was at the Prairie Center Cemetery in Linden.
Thelma June Schwab, daughter of Clifford and Merle (Jones) Schwab, was born July 19, 1924, on a farm in Lincoln Township in Dallas County, Iowa.
She grew up on this same farm and attended Lincoln #6 County School through the eighth grade and graduated from Redfield High School in 1941, where she excelled as a guard in playing basketball.
June married Dale LaVere Pitsenbarger Sept. 8, 1944, at her parents’ farm home in rural Perry. Three children were born to this union, Derry Dean in 1946, Doyce Clifford in 1950 and Karla June in 1957.
June worked hard on the farm, helping her husband with daily chores in milking, caring for laying and broiler chickens and caring for their sheep.
The Pitsenbarger kids were active in 4-H, and June and Dale were both helpful in their projects. June also served as chaperone for 4-H girls at Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha, Neb., for several years.
June worked in the bakery at Hy-Vee in Perry, where she retired after many years of service in 2009.
For more than 40 years, June served as pianist at Shiloh Bible Church in rural Linden, where she played for many weddings and funerals.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws; her husband, Dale, in 1997; grandson, Kip Rogen, in 2011; and two sisters, Lavon Pitsenbarger Gortmaker in 2003 and Nelda Hollingsworth in 2016.
June is survived by her three children, Derry (Joyce) of Perry, Doyce of Aloha, Ore., and Karla (Randy Dolch) Rogen of Linden; one sister, Jean Turner of Redfield; three grandchildren, Wendi (Dan) Moody of Maxwell, Iowa, Jodi (Carl) Jenkins of Des Moines and Mandi (Jim) Orman of Linden; nine great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
Memorials are respectfully requested to go to the Dallas County 4-H Fair Foundation or to the family for later designation
