Marlene A. Gittins

Marlene A. Gittins, age 68, of Council Bluffs, Iowa passed away November 4, 2014 at Risen Son Christian Village. She was born at the home place in Malvern, Iowa on April 10, 1946, on her mothers birthday. Marlene, her older brother, Mervin and her younger sister, Linda, were raised by Leonard Jack & Josephine (Pontow) Fletcher on their homestead, century farm north of the town of Malvern. Marlene graduated from Malvern High School with the class of 1963. She attended nurses training at Jennie Edmundson. In 1964 she met Bob Gittins at a school dance. His mother, Ramona, one of the nursing instructors, had arranged a blind date for them. They fell in love and were married February 3rd 1967 at St. Johns Lutheran Church, where she was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith. Theirs was the love of a lifetime, 47 years together. Their union was blessed with two wonderful children and five grandchildren. In her lifetime, Marlene worked as a Registered Nurse at Jennie Edmundson Hospital and Regency Nursing Home. She was also partner to her husband in building their printing companies through the years. As testimony to their Christian faith, Bob and Marlene taught Sunday School for eighteen years and lead the youth group at St. Pauls Lutheran Church. No matter her title, caring for others was always her priority. She was preceded in death by her parents Jack and Josephine, and by her brother, Mervin. Marlene is survived by her husband of 47 years, Bob Gittins; son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Cheryl Gittins; daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Derek Menke; sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Russ Greaves; sister-in-law, Linda Martens; grandchildren, Michael, Megan, Peytan, Callie and Rowan; a host of other family and friends. Visitation is Friday 6-8PM at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home. Funeral service is Saturday 10AM at the funeral home followed by interment in the Cedar Lawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Risen Son Christian Village.