Treva Pitka (Hicks)

Treva Pitka of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away on February 5, 2021, at Heritage House in Atlantic.

Treva Eileen (Hicks) Pitka was born in her grandfather’s country home near Eldorado Springs, Missouri, on August 10, 1920, to James McKinley and Ceatta (Huff) Hicks. She graduated from Montezuma Consolidated High School in 1938. After graduation, she worked for 2 ½ years in the R. W. Boyd law office to help support the family as her father was killed in a jalopy race when she was 18. On April 5, 1941, she married William Legion (Bill) Pitka in Brownwood, Texas, where he was stationed with the army. She had many adventures following her army husband between Texas to the east coast as he moved from army base to army base during WWII. A great memory Treva shared with generations, was shooting a Thompson submachine gun across the Rio Grande while Bill was patrolling the border in the night.

After the war, Treva and Bill returned to Montezuma, Iowa, to raise their four children, Ceatta, Melody, William F (Bill), and Harold James (Jim). During that time, Treva worked for her sister, Hazel Sig, at Sig Manufacturing Company. In 1956, the family moved to Grundy Center and in 1957, they moved to Atlantic, where Treva lived the rest of her life. In 1960, Treva returned to work to help support her family and send her children to college. She worked for over 50 years for the Friday family, beginning with Publisher’s News and ending with her retirement when she was 90.

She was a member of the Atlantic United Methodist Church since 1957. Church involvement was always important to her. She began teaching Sunday school at the age of 12 and taught for more than 25 years. She and her husband led the youth in MYF for four years in Atlantic during the time when their children were teenagers. Her strong Christian faith guided her through life.

Treva was very thankful for the wonderful people and services available in Atlantic, as well as family members who helped her to live at home in her later years. She was also proud of, and thankful for, her loving family and friends, who made phone calls, visited her often (especially for her birthday and Christmas every year), and helped with upkeep of her property, which allowed her to stay in her home through her 100th birthday.

She is survived by her sister, Hazel Sig (Montezuma, IA); sister-in-laws, Edith Peters (Peoria, AZ) and Della Hicks (Shoreline, WA); daughter, Melody Winter (Montevideo, MN); son, William F. Pitka, (Union Hall, VA); six grandchildren, Ryan (Susan) Pellett (Omaha, NE); Rick (Rina) Mann (Mableton, GA); Beth (Jon) Salesberry (Ankeny, IA); Aaron (Dawn) Pellett (Alborn, MN); William A. Pitka (Coralville, IA); Angela (Ike) Peterson (Spearfish, SD); ten great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband William L. Pitka; son, H. James Pitka; daughter, Ceatta Mann; daughter-in-law, Ann Pitka; parents, James and Ceatta Hicks; brothers, Mearle Grant Hicks and Harold James Hicks, and many other relatives during her 100 years.

Open visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Thursday, February 11th at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. No visitation with the family present is planned.

A private family funeral service will be held at Roland Funeral Home with burial in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Treva's family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.