Alan Fitz

Alan Fitz, 88, of Iowa Falls, passed away Thursday, November 30, 2017 at the Heritage Care Center. A Celebration of Life service will be 10:30 am Thursday, December 7, 2017 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Iowa Falls. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Wednesday, December 6 at the Woodley Funeral Home. Woodley Funeral Home, LLC of Iowa Falls is caring for the family. Earle Alan Fitz was born on August 20, 1929 in Iowa Falls, Iowa to Earle Lincoln and Evelyn (Oleson) Fitz. During the early years, Alan spent much of his life traveling the United States with his parents as his father was a salesman for the John C. Winston Publishing Company of Philadelphia, PA. By the time he had reached his 5th birthday Alan had been to 48 states. He was home schooled until the 7th grade. World War II’s shortage of gas and tires found them off the road and the family settled in Grand Island, NE where his father worked in the ammunitions plant and Alan entered public school. After the war, they returned to Iowa Falls where Alan graduated high school with the class of 1948 and Ellsworth Community College in 1950. He attended Iowa State University until joining the U.S. Air Force and served for 3.5 years at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas, teaching jet and reciprocating engine courses. On June 29, 1957 Alan was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Ida Grace Nissly at the First Congregational Church in Iowa Falls. Following his discharge from the service the couple returned to the family farm where they raised their three children, crops, hogs, cattle and a few dogs. His later 25 years were spent as Vice President of Riverside Book and Bible, a company that Alan and his father started in the mid 1960’s. After the sale of the company in 1988 he and Ida retired in Florida. Alan Fitz is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ida Fitz of Iowa Falls, Iowa; his daughters, Susan Fitz of Iowa Falls, Iowa and Sally Fitz of Iowa Falls, Iowa; grandchildren, Katie Manning of Birmingham, AL, Georgia (Andrew) Howard of Los Gatos, CA, Jesse (Jazlyn) Fitz of Des Moines, IA, Amy (Justin) Ites of Alden, IA, Melissa Schutt of Des Moines, IA and Laura Fitz of Xieman, China; great-grandchildren: Alex and Caden Manning, Hunter, Jack and Abigail Ites, Evelyn, Olive, Grant and Jack Howard, Jacob Sly, Sam, Iris and Eliza Fitz, a half brother, Aaron Fitz of Des Moines, Iowa and a half sister, Emily Fitz of Mexico City, Mexico. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, George Bradley Fitz.

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Alan Fitz

August 20, 1929 - November 30, 2017