Nicholas Zitta

Nicholas Zitta, 93, of St. Joseph, passed away, Monday, July 07, 2008 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2001 Niles Ave., St. Joseph, with Rev. Karen Potter officiating. Memorials may be made to the church. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. Zitta was born October 21, 1914 in Grand Rapids, MI to John & Anna (Herz) Zitta. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1932 and attended Kalamazoo College. On March 7, 1937, he married the former Mary A. Blake in St. Joseph. Nick was employed for forty-seven years at Auto Specialties, retiring in 1979 as Sales Manager. He was active in athletics in high school & college and was a member of the 1931 St. Joseph Championship Basketball team. He was in the first group of inductees into the St. Joseph High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Nick was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ for seventy years,and served on the building committee for the present building. Nick was an avid golfer and a member of Berrien Hills Country Club for sixty-five years. In his spare time, Nick enjoyed tending to his flower gardens around the house, as recent as two weeks ago. He was a very friendly and outgoing person, he never met a stranger. Most of all, Nick cherished the time spent with his family. He will be greatly missed by all. Mr. Zitta is survived by his children-Mary Ann Zitta of Scottsdale, AZ, Robert Zitta of Grand Haven, MI; three grandchildren-Michael Zitta, Jean (Larry) Kroodsma, Kathryn (Steve) Bell; four great-grandchildren-Grant Robert Bell, Ryan Pearce Bell, Mercedes Rose Kroodsma, & Meredith Ann Bell; two brothers-Bill (Bonnie) Zitta & John Zitta, both of St. Joseph; two sisters-Irene Becker of Lake Forest CA, Marie Campbell of Sebastian, FL; numerous nieces & nephews; and special friends David & Sally Durr of St. Joseph. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary on July 30, 2001, his daughter-in-law Mary Zitta in January of 2004, and by two brothers-Tony & Frank Zitta.