March 04 1955 May 14 2019
Roger’s Obituary Roger C. Pitts, 64, long time Le Mars resident and business owner, passed away at home surrounded by family on Tuesday May 14th, 2019, following a long and courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma. Roger was born March 4th, 1955 in Le Mars, IA to Carl and Audrey (Dawson) Pitts. Roger spent his childhood growing up in the Le Mars area and from a young age developed an immediate love for baseball and classic cars. Roger graduated from Le Mars Community High School in 1973, where he excelled on the Le Mars Bulldog baseball team. After graduation, Roger began working at their family owned business, Carl’s Welding Shop. Carl passed away suddenly on January 22nd, 1976 and at the young age of 20 Roger took over his family’s business and ran it successfully with his mother Audrey for 40 more years until his retirement in 2016. In Le Mars he met the love of his life and best friend Karen Hodgson, and on January 15th, 1977 they were united in marriage at St. Joseph Catholic church in Le Mars. To this union came his greatest pride, his 3 children Emily, Joe and Jon. Roger loved his family more than anything, and especially enjoyed coaching and watching his children’s sports teams in softball, baseball and basketball. He created a special bond with all the kids he coached, always sure to weave in a life lesson while teaching the proper follow through on the mound. Roger believed in volunteering and giving back to your community and working with Le Mars’ youth was just one of the many ways he gave back. Roger took great pride in his business and it was his top priority that he and his employees provided good products and quality service to their customers. His skill set as a welder and metal fabricator was unique, talents he learned at a young age from his father Carl. He valued a solid day’s work and the satisfaction that followed. During Roger’s younger years he enjoyed playing town team baseball (Le Mars Cubs and Orioles), slow-pitch softball, rec-league basketball, and a Monday night bowling league. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Roger especially enjoyed his neighborhood and the special bond he and Karen had with their neighbors. He hosted many City Council meetings in his neighborhood “City Hall”, and an invite to a Council meeting was coveted by many. Roger loved the time spent with his cousins and always welcomed his nieces and nephews into his home, and often the night ended with a showing of his favorite movie Uncle Buck. Roger loved nothing more than watching baseball, from a local Little League game to a Major-League game. As a youngster, his father Carl took him to the 1965 All-Star game in Minneapolis at Metropolitan Stadium and almost 50 years later he and his son Jon repeated the trip when the 2014 All-Star game was again in Minneapolis at Target Field. He and his family made multiple trips to Spring Training in Arizona and to the College World Series in Omaha. Along with other friends he helped build Gehlen Catholic’s first baseball field in the early 1990s. Roger valued his Catholic faith and this helped him persevere through his battle with cancer following his initial diagnosis in 1998. In close collaboration with his many caregivers and Doctors, he cherished the second chance on life and with a positive attitude he maximized every day he lived. Roger is survived by his wife, Karen Pitts of Le Mars, Iowa; children: Emily Pitts (Amanda) of Sioux City, Iowa, Joseph Pitts of Omaha, Nebraska and Jon Pitts of Omaha, Nebraska; sisters in law: Jayne (Tom) Ryan of Le Mars, IA, Maureen (David) Gustafson of Rapid City, SD, Katie(Bryan) Hodgson of Sioux City, IA; brothers in law: Patrick(Cathy) Hodgson of Fort Worth, TX, Michael Hodgson(Kristi) of Le Mars, IA, Tony Hodgson of Omaha, NE; aunts and uncles: Darlys Stevens of Washta, IA,Sharon Dawson of Gilbert, Arizona, Tom and Doris Dawson of Washta, IA, Ron and Darlene Schmillen of Marcus, IA and Joanne Dawson of Cherokee, Iowa; along with many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Audrey and Carl;parents-in-law John and Patricia Hodgson; sister-in-law Shaune Hodgson and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2019 at All Saints Catholic Parish – St. Joseph Church in Le Mars. Reverend Bruce Lawler will celebrate Mass. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be after 4:00 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2019 at All Saints Catholic Parish – St. Joseph Church. There will be a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus Rosary. Visitation will resume from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Monday at the church. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be directed to The Mayo Clinic, The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and a college scholarship fund for local high school athletes. Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Roger Carl Pitts March 04 1955 May 14 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Le Mars, state: Iowa