Wallace Edwin Stittsworth

Wallace (Wally) Edwin Stittworth, 79, of Mason City, died early Tuesday morning (February 24, 2009) at Good Shepherd Nursing Home, Mason City.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a. m. Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009 at First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia Ave., Mason City, with Rev. Dr. Jo Frahm Watkins and Rev. Jim Stiles officiating. The family will receive friends and family from 4:00 6:00 p.m. on Friday, February 27, 2009 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City.
Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church, Mason City, Iowa; Walker Community Church, Walker, Minnesota; or to the UNI Scholarship Fund.
Wally and his twin brother, Willis, were born May 26, 1929 in Knoxville, Iowa to Willis Arthur and Madge Marie (Momyer) Stittsworth. He attended grade schools in Cherokee, Osage, Nashua and Knoxille, Iowa, and graduated from Ankeny High School in 1947. Wally graduated from Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) in 1952, majoring in physical education. He received his Masters Degree from Northern Colorado University (Greeley) in 1953. Wally entered the military in 1953 serving two years with the 85th Infantry at Ft. Riley, Kansas.
Sports played a major role in his life. He played football for Ankenys high school team, after graduation joined the National Guard and played football and basketball for the 34th Infantry National Guard, then played football at the Iowa State Teachers College. Coach Buck Starbeck considered him one of his watch charm guards. During his time with the military, Wally played football for the 85th Infantry at Ft. Riley, Kansas. Wally also was an active referee and athletic official for many sports events in North Iowa. One of Wallys favorite remarks from his coaches was its not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, but the size of the fight in the dog that counts and Wally seemed to live his life by that motto.
An educator in Adel, Forest City, and Mason City for 35 years, Wally taught science courses, drivers education and coached many sports.
Wally married Paula Goll of rural Garner on June 6, 1959 at Peace Reformed Church of Garner and together they enjoyed nearly 50 years of unity and love. They were blessed with four children.
A major part of Wallys life was time he spent at Leech Lake, Minnesota. His parents first moved to northern Minnesota in 1946, where they owned several resorts on Leech Lake. During this time, Wally became a fishing guide for his parents resorts and developed a life-long love of the water and fishing. For the past 35 years, his second home was located near Walker, Minnesota where he became an important member of the lakeshore community.
Volunteerism was a big part of Wallys life. He was a charter member of the Mason City Evening Lions Club, serving in several offices including President, and an active participant in many service projects. In 1982 he was awarded the prestigious Warren Coleman award for his dedication to service with the Lions Club. An active participant in the First United Methodist Church, Wally and his wife Paula became involved in a missionary project called County Cousins, serving as president for nearly 30 years, while collecting, organizing, and distributing clothing, garden seeds, school supplies, and toys for as many as 400 Headstart children in rural Mississippi annually. As an associate member of the Walker Community Church in Walker, Minnesota, Wally kept busy with the Mens Club and their annual Fish Fry, Pork BBQ, and Country Bazaar fundraisers. For the past 18 years, Wally and Paula each volunteered more than 3600 hours with the Florida State Park Service. Friends knew that if there was a project to be tackled, Wally was the one to get things done.
Wally was blessed with many good neighbors and friends throughout his life. Friendships made through his volunteer work; teaching associations; coffee club; skiing, fishing, and golfing adventures; and church activities in Mason City and Walker were a special joy to him.
Wally is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Paula, of Mason City; his children, Jon Stittsworth, of Mason City; Sheri (Fernando) Huerta, of Dumfries, Virginia; Lisa (Brent) Rothgeb, of Edina, Minnesota; and Jay Stittsworth, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; grandchildren, Jillian Paul, of Mason City; Drew Paul, of Des Moines; Christen May, of Burnsville, Minnesota; Christina, Fernando David, Elizabeth, and Gabrielle Huerta, of Dumfries, Virginia; and Sydney Rothgeb, of Edina, Minnesota; his brother, Willis (Arla) Stittsworth, of Bemidji, Minnesota; his niece, Sandra Scanlan, of Sun City Center, Florida; and nephews Dennis (Jamie) Dalrymple, of New York City; Corey (Diana) Stittsworth, of Bemidji, Minnesota; Kirby (Wendy) Stittsworth, of Devils Lake, South Dakota; and Clay (Sue) Stittsworth, of Bemidji, Minnesota.
Wally is preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Madge Stittsworth; and his sister, Willa Elizabeth Bette Rasche.