James Wittrock, age 81, of Manning, passed away on Sunday, November 8, 2020, at his home in Manning.
Private Family Funeral services will be held later in November 2020 at the Nishnabotna Cemetery, Manilla.
Due to the pandemic, private family graveside services will be held at Nishnabotna Cemetery, Manilla.
A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date.

James John, son of George and Bernadine (Eischeid) Wittrock, was born November 12, 1938, at home in Carroll County, Iowa. He grew up near Templeton and Manning, attending school at Eden Township District No. 9 country school and Sacred Heart School in Templeton, completing the eighth grade.

Jim was a lifelong farmer and drove truck as an owner/operator hauling grain and livestock to various towns and cities. He also did trucking jobs for Dedham Co-op, Pioneer and many farmers. In 1976, Jim retired from farming and continued to haul grain until 1987. He also served with the Army National Guard and Reserves from 1956 - 1963. While married to Myra Meeves, the couple had seven children.

In May of 1984, Jim was united in marriage with Joan Mesenbrink in Nashua, Iowa. Together, the couple managed Motel 6 locations in New Mexico, Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Jim was a member of the American Legion. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, riding motorcycle, tending his large garden in Manilla, walking his best buddy Hooch (his dog) in his later years and most recently enjoying his friendly pussy cat, Otis.

On Sunday, November 8, 2020, Jim passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at the age of 81. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; wife Joan Wittrock; son Mark Wittrock; siblings: Florian Wittrock; Marion Joens and Janet Pevey; step-daughter Renee Binder; parents in law Francis and Vera Mesenbrink.

Jim is survived by his six children: Rick Wittrock of Manning; Tom Wittrock of Manning (Sherri Wagler); Susan Kusel of Thornton, Colorado; Dave Wittrock (Stacie) of Overland Park, Kansas; John Wittrock (Darla Neumann) of Manning; and Sandy Klocke (Kris) of Des Moines; daughter-in-law Karen Wittrock of Kansas; numerous grand, great-grand, step-grand, and step-great-grandchildren; sister Agnes Jules of Grand Junction, Colorado, along with many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Page 55 of the Manning Schools history book

Al & Marian (Wittrock) Jones

Harold & Agnes (Wittrock) Juels

Florian & Elizabeth Wittrock

Standing: ??, Frank Eischeid, George Wittrock
Seated: Deanie Eischeid

Myra (Meeves) & Jim Wittrock

wedding cake made by Darlene Lamp

Rick, Susan, Tom, Mark

Tom Wittrock operating the asphalt roller 1988
Unknown boy in front

Sandy Wittrock & Jodi Jensen

James John Wittrock MHS 1988

Tom Wittrock MHS 1980

Tom Wittrock & Dawn Hargens - Prom King & Queen

Back: Dan Renze, John Wittrock, Kelly Croghan
Front: ?Anesta or Tamatha Hillen?, Cory DeBoth, Kay Wieland

Tom Wittrock 21 years MFD in 2004

Back: Rick, John, David, Mark, Tom
Front: Susan, Myra, Sandy

Back row - 13th from left: Tiny Tyson from Audubon
Back row 8th from left: Dave Kerkhoff
Back row 6th from left: Bob Lacy
Fifth row 6th from left: Ralph Hicks
Fifth row 7th from left: James Wittrock
Jim received three medals for marksmanship: Expert Pistol, Expert M1, Expert Carbine
Fourth row 8th from left: Jim Schoeppner
Third row 10th from left: Earl Vogl from Templeton
Second row ? 5th from the left: Garber from Audubon - Master Sergeant
Front row 6th from the left: Captain Robert Nymand

For a number of years I bugged Jim about getting his military service and like most humble Veterans he said he really didn't do anything important and it wasn't necessary to get his story for the Veterans' book...then one day he asked me to make a copy of his battalion. I made a copy for him and then asked him again if I could interview him to get his story and said it would be OK.
At first during the interview he didn't think he would have much to tell but as we got going there were lots of interesting things that he remembered.

Hopefully this will encourage more Manning Veterans to work with me so I can get their stories too!!!