Gene Litten

Gene A. Litten, 90, of Muscatine, passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at the Unity Point Health-Trinity General Hospital in Rock Island.

He was born on a small farm in rural Barneston, Nebraska on January 19,1933 to Arthur and Evonne (Stromer) Litten.  He rode to a one-room school with his two brothers in a horse drawn wagon.  Upon graduation from high school, he enlisted in the Navy where he served 4 years as a medic.  He served in active duty in 1951 and 1952 in the Korean conflict and upon returning stateside, worked in the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California.

After finishing his military commitment, he worked in the Crete, Nebraska Hospital where he met and later married Shirley Jean Homolka on August 21, 1956.  They lived in Nebraska where they operated a furniture store with a partner.  They sold the store to the partner and moved to Muscatine in July 1968 where he managed and later owned Better Homes Furniture (now Pierce Furniture) until he retired in 1991.  In retirement, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, antique tractors and especially gardening.  He looked forward to over producing tomatoes so he could share them with neighbors and friends.  He was a member of the Calvary Church and the American Legion.  He was well known for his keen observations on real life events, his playful and engaging communication style combined with a clever and active sense of humor.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Jean Litten; brother, Robert Litten of Colorado Springs, CO; daughter, Tami Taylor of Charlotte, NC; son, Brian (Mindy Maurath) of Hickory, NC; his grandchildren, Meghan (Jacque) Passino, Aubrey Taylor, Kaylyn Taylor all of Charlotte, NC, Luke Taylor of Greensboro, NC, and Blake (MacKenzie) Litten of Waukee, Iowa; and three great-grandchildren, JB and Maura Passino of Charlotte, NC and Lyle Litten of Waukee, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Kay; and his brother, Darryll.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at the Muscatine Memorial Park Cemetery on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a time of fellowship at the Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral Home Community Room. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Muscatine Humane Society or the Calvary Church. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservices.com.  

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