Hans George Witzel

Hans George Witzel, 86, of Castana, Iowa passed away Friday, November 26, 2021 at home in Castana, Iowa.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, December 6, 2021 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Mapleton, Iowa with Reverend Christopher LaBoube officiating. Visitation will be 4:00 – 6:00 P.M. Sunday, December 5, 2021 with a Prayer service at 5:00 P.M at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Mapleton, Iowa. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday, December 6, 2021. (Masks are encouraged). Burial will follow in the Center Cemetery, Castana, Iowa with Military Honors provided by the United States Air Force and the Grimsley – Thayer American Legion Post #502, of Castana, Iowa. Taps will be played by great-grandson Xander Doucette, recruit soldier in the Iowa National Guard. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service, Onawa, Iowa.

Hans George Witzel was born May 15, 1935 near Bronson, Iowa the son of Karl and Emilie (Boecher) Witzel. He graduated from Castana High School with the class of 1953. He enlisted in the Iowa National Guard September 7, 1953 and served in the United States Air Force February 27, 1956 until he was honorably discharged April 20, 1965.

Hans married Lavone Hasbrouck on January 6, 1957 in Mapleton, Iowa. To this union six children were born, Carol, Mark, David, Donald, Brian, and Colleen. The couple moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1962. In that same year, Hans and a partner started National Color Television and Appliance Company for many years in Las Vegas, Nevada. He started his own business as Witzel Appliance Service in 1977 and had many employees.

Hans enjoyed volunteering as an usher when the Billy Graham Crusades occurred in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In 1986 Lavone and Hans moved back to Iowa on the family farm near Castana, Iowa. He loved working and being on the farm. Hans operated heavy equipment and making improvements around the farm with his excavator. He enjoyed gardening, watching Gunsmoke, and tinkering around the house, “fixing up everything”. Hans enjoyed all of his family.

He was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Mapleton, Iowa.

Survivors include his children, Carol (Bill) Pritchard of Mapleton, Iowa, Mark Witzel of Pisgah, Iowa, David Witzel of Castana, Iowa, Donald (Deanna) Witzel of Danville, Illinois, Brian Witzel of Mapleton, Iowa, and Colleen (Jim) Musson of Danville, Illinois; sixteen grandchildren, Jeremy (Courtney) Doucette, Justin Doucette, Troy Goudge, Christopher Witzel, Benjamin Witzel, Matthew Witzel, Daniel (Emma) Witzel, Robert (Halley) Witzel, Katie (Jason) Spencer, Brittney Witzel, Kyle Witzel, Bryson Witzel, Karli Witzel, Joshua (Ali) Hetzel, Elizabeth Sothen, and Adam Sothen; seventeen great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Ernest (Dora) Witzel of Castana, Iowa, Richard (Colleen) of Eugene, Oregon, Nancy (Melvin) Domina of Omaha, Nebraska, and Betty Deardoff of Bennington, Nebraska; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lavone Witzel; parents, Karl and Emilie (Boecher) Witzel; brother, Robert (Iris) Witzel; and brother-in-law, Bob Deardoff.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.rushfamilycareservice.com

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