2008
Claude
2008
Claude Frank "Frank" Fitch Jr.
October 11, 2008 — September 26, 2008
Claude F. "Frank" Fitch Jr., 91, of Sioux City died Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, at his residence, surrounded by his family.
Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with the Rev. Merlin J. Schrad, pastor and Monsignor Roger J. Augustine, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the Naval Reserve. Visitation with the family present will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Larkin Northside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes.
Frank, the son of Claude and Lucille Fitch, was born in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 11, 1916. He attended Catholic Schools in St. Joseph, Mo., Sioux Falls, S.D., and Sioux City, and graduated from high school in Cherokee, Iowa, in 1935. He graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1939.
He married Mary McCormick in Chicago, on Jan. 3, 1944. Frank was employed by Carson Pirie Scott in Chicago, Ill., until September 1941, at which time he entered the U.S. Navy. He served two years as a chemical warfare officer in the Panama Canal Naval District and the following two years on an aircraft carrier, participating in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations. He and his wife came to Sioux City in November 1945. He was the commanding officer, Naval Reserve Battalion 9-15 in Sioux City. Lt. Commander Fitch was discharged honorably from the Naval Reserve in 1959.
In 1948, he established the accounting firm of Fitch & Co., which he led until retirement in 1982. He was one of the five founders of Great West Casualty, where he served as a director, treasurer and a member of the executive committee. He also served as a director of Lincoln Benefit Life Insurance Company.
He was president of the Sioux City Country Club in 1975 and 1976. He was a 62-year member of Blessed Sacrament Parish, where he served on various committees, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He also served on the boards of the Girl Scouts of America and St. Vincent Hospital.
Survivors include his wife, Mary, his wife of 64 years; their daughters and spouses, Jean and Bob Kudelko of Leawood, Kan., Judy and Rick Hoak of Sioux City, Mary Frances and John Campbell of Leawood, Kan.; their sons and spouses, Jim and Mary Jane Fitch of Dakota Dunes, John and Margie Fitch of Sioux City, and Kevin and Jodi Fitch of Bloomington, Minn. He is also survived by 20 grandchildren, Christine Miceli, Major Robert Kudelko USMC, Catherine Kudelko, Ann, Eric and Christopher Hoak, Scott, Kevin and Mark Campbell, Carolyn Rogers, Katie Lazure, Dan Fitch, T.J. Fitch, Catherine Foss, Bryan, William and Gary Fitch. Charlie, Ryan and Kevin Fitch; as well as 15 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Charles Fitch and wife, Carol of Sun Lakes, Ariz.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Sr. Mary Lenore, R.S.M.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Blessed Sacrament Church or Hospice of Siouxland.
Thank you, Dad, for being that special person who loved our wonderful mother, who loved us, and showed us how to love each other and our children.
Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with the Rev. Merlin J. Schrad, pastor and Monsignor Roger J. Augustine, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the Naval Reserve. Visitation with the family present will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Larkin Northside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes.
Frank, the son of Claude and Lucille Fitch, was born in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 11, 1916. He attended Catholic Schools in St. Joseph, Mo., Sioux Falls, S.D., and Sioux City, and graduated from high school in Cherokee, Iowa, in 1935. He graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1939.
He married Mary McCormick in Chicago, on Jan. 3, 1944. Frank was employed by Carson Pirie Scott in Chicago, Ill., until September 1941, at which time he entered the U.S. Navy. He served two years as a chemical warfare officer in the Panama Canal Naval District and the following two years on an aircraft carrier, participating in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations. He and his wife came to Sioux City in November 1945. He was the commanding officer, Naval Reserve Battalion 9-15 in Sioux City. Lt. Commander Fitch was discharged honorably from the Naval Reserve in 1959.
In 1948, he established the accounting firm of Fitch & Co., which he led until retirement in 1982. He was one of the five founders of Great West Casualty, where he served as a director, treasurer and a member of the executive committee. He also served as a director of Lincoln Benefit Life Insurance Company.
He was president of the Sioux City Country Club in 1975 and 1976. He was a 62-year member of Blessed Sacrament Parish, where he served on various committees, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He also served on the boards of the Girl Scouts of America and St. Vincent Hospital.
Survivors include his wife, Mary, his wife of 64 years; their daughters and spouses, Jean and Bob Kudelko of Leawood, Kan., Judy and Rick Hoak of Sioux City, Mary Frances and John Campbell of Leawood, Kan.; their sons and spouses, Jim and Mary Jane Fitch of Dakota Dunes, John and Margie Fitch of Sioux City, and Kevin and Jodi Fitch of Bloomington, Minn. He is also survived by 20 grandchildren, Christine Miceli, Major Robert Kudelko USMC, Catherine Kudelko, Ann, Eric and Christopher Hoak, Scott, Kevin and Mark Campbell, Carolyn Rogers, Katie Lazure, Dan Fitch, T.J. Fitch, Catherine Foss, Bryan, William and Gary Fitch. Charlie, Ryan and Kevin Fitch; as well as 15 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Charles Fitch and wife, Carol of Sun Lakes, Ariz.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Sr. Mary Lenore, R.S.M.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Blessed Sacrament Church or Hospice of Siouxland.
Thank you, Dad, for being that special person who loved our wonderful mother, who loved us, and showed us how to love each other and our children.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Claude Frank "Frank" Fitch Jr., please visit our flower store.
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