Grace M. Hittle

Grace M. Hittle, 87, of Sioux City passed away Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, at Sunrise Retirement Community.

Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Daniel Guenther officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. today, with a Catholic Daughters of America rosary at 4 p.m., a Confraternity of Catholic Mothers rosary at 4:30 p.m., the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., all at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, 6200 Morningside Avenue. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Grace was born May 24, 1921, in Fordyce, Neb., the daughter of Edward J. and Christina (Mauch) Lukas. She graduated from Cathedral High School in 1939, then worked in retail. During World War II, she worked at the Sioux City Wincharger Corporation in war-time production.

On April 10, 1944, she married James Neal Hittle. She then became a full-time homemaker and bookkeeper for Hittle Sign Company. James died Sept. 19, 1989, in Sioux City.

She was an active volunteer at the former St. Anthony's Orphanage, the Sioux City Bargain Center for Catholic Daughters, the Carmelite Monastery and for the school lunch program at Immaculate Conception School. She was a member of the Sioux City Women's Club, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the Confraternity of Catholic Mothers. She was a multi-gallon blood donor through the Siouxland Community Blood Bank.

An avid antique collector, she was a recognized authority on early American primitive antiques. Her collection of American 18th and 19th century primitives was comprehensive and extensive. She was a guest lecturer on the subject at several area schools. Her greatest joy was showing her collection to interested people, who loved to talk antiques. She also enjoyed reading and history.

She is survived by three sons, J. Steve Hittle of Sioux City, Jon B. Hittle and his wife, Barbara of Damascus, Md., and Pete Hittle and his wife, Nancy of Sioux City; and six grandchildren, James Steven, Margarita, Jan, Jamie, Matthew and Anna.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and a brother, Roman Lukas.

Pallbearers will be Charley Maly, Matt Hittle, Anna Hittle, Jan Hittle, Jamie Hittle and Steve Hittle.