Clarence J. Bittel, 90 La Crosse, Kansas, passed away Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Locust Grove Village, La Crosse, Kansas.
Clarence was born August 16, 1934, in Logan, Kansas, the son of Peter and Marie (Schmidt) Bittel. He was a 60 year resident of Rush County, Kansas, moving there from Colorado. A 1953 graduate of Densmore High School, Densmore, Kansas, he owned and operated Bittel Excavating Company, in La Crosse, Kansas, before his retirement.
He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Kansas. He was a former La Crosse City Commissioner and Mayor; a former volunteer firefighter for the La Crosse Fire Department and served on many committees at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. He was instrumental in organizing the Rush County AA and served as a leader and counselor in many surrounding counties.
On June 2, 1955, he married Dorothy M. Depperschmidt at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal, Kansas. She preceded him in death July 24, 2024.
Survivors include: two sons, Dennis Bittel (Christie), La Crosse, Kansas, and Gerald Bittel (Linda), La Crosse, Kansas; four grandchildren, Jessica Dellett (Jason), La Crosse, Kansas, Jennifer Stonequist (Jeread), Wellsville, Kansas, Amy Love (Damian), Manhattan, Kansas, and Ryan Urban (Stephanie), Mammoth Lakes, California; eight great grandchildren; one brother, Carroll Bittel, Glade, Kansas; one sister, Kathryn Scott, Sutherland, Nebraska; and two sisters in law, Nadine Bittel, Shelton, Nebraska , and Angela Archer, La Crosse, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Alvin Bittel, Lavern Bittel, LeRoy Bittel, Donald Bittel, and Larry Bittel; and two sisters, Charlotte Broyles, and Georgine Schurz.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 23, 2025, from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Janousek Funeral Home, La Crosse, Kansas. A vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 P.M.
Church visitation will be Monday, March 24, 2025, from 1:30 P.M. to 2:20 P.M. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Kansas.
Funeral service will be Monday, March 24, 2025, at 2:30 P.M. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Kansas, with Father Stephen Dabanka officiating. Interment will be in the La Crosse City Cemetery, La Crosse, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials to St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Kansas.
Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.janousekfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, P O Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785/222-2517.