Joseph B. Litzinger

Joseph B. Litzinger, age 80 of Batesville, died Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Margaret Mary Hospital. Born May 14, 1932 in Franklin County Indiana, he is the son of Hilda (Nee: Lamping) and Henry Litzinger. He married Wanda Tangman February 15, 1958 in Napoleon, Indiana. Joe served in the army during the Korean War and after the service went to work for the Canada Dry Bottling Company for 32 years as a truck driver and then operated a press 10 years for Batesville Tool & Die before retiring. He was a member of the Batesville V.F.W. Post #3183 and the Golden Citizens Card Club.Joe loved his cards. He played with family. He played at several weekly and monthly get togethers around town. He played 500, Solo, 7-up and Pinochle. He also liked attending bingo at Morris on Sundays and playing lottery scratch-offs. In good weather he’d sit on the porch to watch the birds and squirrels. In colder weather, he’d leave the front door open so he could still watch them. Joe always had a joke for you and apparently was a bit of a prankster according to his family. They also talked about how he looked forward to Sunday’s which were always set aside for his favorite meal of pork, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. He would request it for birthdays, special events or holidays too. He enjoyed watching westerns, football, The Price is Right and was a diehard Reds fan. Apparently when watching The Price is Right or a Reds game, if you wonder in and started talking he would raise his finger which meant later, not now. His greatest joy was his grandchildren and great grandchildren. His family talked about how his face would light up when they’d come in and how he teased the girls by calling out “Wanda, the boys are here.”Joe is survived by his wife Wanda; daughter and significant other Jean Schmidlapp and Matt Keinath of Milan, Indiana, daughters and son-in-laws Becky and Doug Goldsmith, Robin and Steve Fuller, all of Greensburg, Indiana; son and daughter-in-law Dwayne and Mary Litzinger of Sylvania, Alabama; sister Rita Litzinger of Oldenburg, Indiana; brothers George Litzinger of Hamburg, Indiana, Emil Litzinger of Morris, Indiana; 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by sisters Alberta Messang, Luella Creager, JoAnn Stoll, Marie Federle and brother Wilbur Litzinger.Visitation is Wednesday, April 24th, from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Thursday, April 25th, also at the funeral home with Rev. Jill Kepler Campbell officiating. Burial will follow in St. Mark’s Lutheran Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by the Batesville V.F.W. and the Prell-Bland American Legion. The family requests memorials to St. Mark’s Cemetery Fund.

Joseph B. Litzinger

April 21, 1933 - April 21, 2013