Alita was the sixth child (of eight) born to John and Angeline (Rohlfs) Martens on Sept. 29, 1932, in a farmhouse in Modale. In 1935 they moved to Star, Idaho, where she first learned about the love of Jesus at the Friends Church. After her father died in 1944, her family moved back to Iowa, setting down roots in Missouri Valley in 1945. Her faith continued to grow and she was baptized at The Church of Christ in Missouri Valley on July 8, 1945. She was united in marriage to Dewaine B. Stichler on Nov. 30, 1951, and three years later they moved to Council Bluffs. In March 1959, she became a member of First Christian Church in Council Bluffs and enjoyed learning, growing, and serving faithfully throughout her 62 years there.
Alita's strong work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to adapt led her to work her way up from telephone operator to supervisor and eventually to manager as she saw the transition of Northwestern Bell to US West to AT&T. She remained in management until she retired in 1986, after 36 years with "the telephone company." During her time there she made many life-long friends and invested in many lives.
While working full time and raising five children Alita also served as a Boy Scout Leader and a Sunday School Teacher. She was an active member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, Eastern Star, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Red Hat Ladies Society, Lunch Bunch, and thoroughly enjoyed being active in The Joy Sunday School Class, many Bible studies, and Women's Circle at church. She was also an avid reader and collector of Holly Hobbie memorabilia and porcelain dolls.
Alita loved her family deeply as a wife, mom, grandma, great grandma, sister, and aunt. She loved keeping herself busy in the kitchen and will be fondly remembered by her family for her amazing sense of humor and over-abundance of homemade desserts, thin pancakes, chicken & noodles, and round steak. Her love for country and gospel music ran deep and she cherished every chance she got to rock her grandkids and sing "When the Roll is Called up Yonder" and of course, our family favorite, "You are My Sunshine." She had a way of making each of her grandkids believe they were her favorite.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dewaine in 2001; infant son, Dewaine Benjamin, Jr. in 1952; son, Trevor in 1986; son, Mitchell in 2017; one sister; and five brothers.
She is survived by daughter, Shawni (Matt) Atherton, Council Bluffs; sons, Greg (Caryn) Stichler, Elkhorn, Neb. and Brent (Ann) Stichler, Council Bluffs; grandchildren, Farrah (Rob) Mahoney, Middlebury, Ind., Matthew Atherton, Jr., Nicholas (Tennille) Atherton, Kahla Atherton (Cory Anderson), all of Council Bluffs, Chad (Allison) Atherton, Heresford, Ariz., Shanna Stichler, Cole (Katie) Stichler, Connor (Rebecca) Stichler, all of Omaha, Neb., Whitney (Kyle) Fagan, Bennington, Neb., Logan Stichler, Council Bluffs, Halle Stichler, Omaha; 17 great-grandchildren; sister, Bessie Ryan, Sacramento, Calif.; sister-in-law, Pauline Mickey, Missouri Valley; many nieces, nephews, and family friends.
Visitation with family was Thursday, followed by funeral service at Cutler O’Neill funeral home. Interment at Frazier Cemetery. Funeral was live streamed at www.cutleroneill.com, just click on Alita’s obituary page and tribute wall.
Memorials to Camp of the Good Shepherd, Deaf Missions, or HETRA (Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy).
