Cleveland Ira Pitkin

Cleveland Ira Pitkin, 88, of Callaway, Nebraska, died Monday, June 22, 2009, at the Callaway Good Samaritan Center in Callaway. He was born on March 8, 1921 in Custer County, Callaway, Nebraska. Ira was the oldest of six children born to Cleve and Mattie (Price) Pitkin. Ira received his education at a local rural school and at Callaway Public School. He finished his high school education in Nessa, Oregon where he graduated in 1939. After graduating from high school, Ira returned to Nebraska to work on Charlie Fredrick’s ranch in Long Pine. The following year he worked for the Kearney Telephone Company as a lineman in Palmer and Greeley, Nebraska. Ira enlisted in the Navy on May 29, 1942 and trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Great Lakes, Illinois. While on leave, he married Georgia Marie Hansen on April 28, 1943, at the home of Cleve and Mattie Pitkin in Callaway, Nebraska. Ira was honorably discharged from the Navy on October 29, 1945. He and Georgia made their first home on the home place in the Cottonwood community southwest of Callaway. Later they moved north of Callaway to the Pine Canyon community. It was during this time that Ira lost his left hand in a corn picker accident. In 1952, Ira and Jo moved to a farm a mile west of Callaway where they farmed, and Ira sold Moorman feed. The family moved to Callaway in 1960, to their home on the east side of Morgan Park where they resided until they moved to the nursing home in May of 2007. Besides farming, working for the telephone company, being a gunner in the Navy, and selling feed, Ira loved working in his shop, but Ira’s greatest loves were his wife, Georgia (Jo), and his family. Survivors include: Sons Steven of Kearney; John and wife, Deb of Cody, Nebraska; Terry and wife, Julie of Scottsbluff, Nebraska; Robert and wife, Christie of Callaway, Nebraska. One daughter: Linda and husband, Donn Black of Holdrege, Nebraska Eleven grandchildren: Joe Black and wife, Amy of Hastings, Nebraska; Sarah DeWald and husband, Nate of Hallam, Nebraska; Adam Rivera and wife, Nicki of North Platte, Nebraska; Brook Cady and husband Clifford of Merriman, Nebraska; Jordan Pitkin and wife, Carrisa of Cody, Nebraska; Megan Pitkin and fiance' Derrick Krueger of Valentine, Nebraska; Amy McAlister and husband, Kyle of Scottsbluff, Nebraska; Leslie Hughes and husband, Dan of Corvallis, Montana; Angela, Cassidy, and Shawndra Pitkin of Callaway, Nebraska as well as 14 great-grandchildren. One sister: Marge Headley and husband, Dean of Callaway, Nebraska; One brother, Tony and wife, Beverly Pitkin of Callaway, Nebraska; Sister-in-law, Mildred Pitkin of Callaway, Nebraska and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Ira was preceded in death by his loving wife, Georgia; his parents Cleve and Mattie; his in-laws, George and Maria and uncle, Peter; two sisters, Thelma and Freda; brother, Charles and brothers-in-law, Bill and Aaron. The family has honored Ira’s wishes that his body be cremated. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, June 26, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Callaway, Nebraska with Reverend Jerry Schwarz officiating. A Memorial Book Signing will be Thursday, June 25, 2009, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Callaway Senior Center in Callaway. Memorials are suggested to the Callaway Education Foundation’s Partners in Success Program or the Callaway Hospital. Inurnment will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Callaway at a later date. Timm-Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Callaway is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.