William Nitzke, of Lake View, IA, was born on February 2, 1913 and passed away on December 3, 2017.  He was the fourth of eight children born to Ed and Anna Nitzke of Storm Lake.  As a very young boy, he sold papers in his hometown.  He worked on the Van Hyming farm near Storm Lake and then for Robinson’s Dairy delivering milk until 1952.  Bill attended Buena Vista College and then studied dairy production at Iowa State University.  After working for Robinson’s, Bill worked in the grocery business.  His first job being at Storm Lake’s Council Oak Grocery Store and then at Fareway’s meat department. 

   Bill was a faithful servant of the Lord.  He cultivated gardens for all the neighboring seniors on Seneca Street.  He would wait at the church door to open it for anyone requiring walkers.  As a boy, Bill attended Sunday school at the German Methodist Church but later joined the Catholic Church when he married Lucille Pettit on April 28, 1937.  Bill sang in the choir at St. Mary’s, often singing “O Holy Night” at the Christmas service. 

   Bill was very active and enjoyed all sports.  As a young man, he enjoyed ice skating and ice boating on Storm Lake.  He fished and played tennis with his family and golfed until he was 102 years old. 

  Bill, the last survivor of the Ed and Anna Nitzke children, was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and his wife Lucille (a few days before their 70^th anniversary).  He is survived by his children: Maryann (Nitzke) Mason, Joseph (Mary Ellen Ellyson) Nitzke, and Michael (Carol) Nitzke; grandchildren: Will Mason, Theodore Nitzke, and Greta Nitzke; step-grandchildren: Chris (Nancy) Bruscher, Andrew Bruscher, and Kimberly (Carl) Friedmann; step great-grandchildren: David and Rachel Bruscher, and Elijah Friedmann.