In Memory of Alitta Marie Lansink

Alitta Marie Lansink, age 83, of Odebolt, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, November 8, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein, Iowa.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 14, 2020, at the St. Martin’s Catholic Church of Odebolt, Iowa. Father Joseph Dillinger will officiate. Committal Services will follow in St. Martin’s Catholic Cemetery of Odebolt, Iowa. A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a private family rosary and vigil service at 7:00 p.m., on Friday, November 13, 2020, at the Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, masks are encouraged and social distancing rules apply. The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements.  Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

In lieu of flowers donations in Alitta’s name may be made to the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein, IA, Odebolt Specialty Care of Odebolt, IA or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Alitta Marie (Gehling) Lansink, the daughter of William “Bill” and Agnes (Staiert) Gehling, was born on February 16, 1937, in Carroll, Iowa. She attended St. Peter & Paul Elementary School, St. Angeline’s Academy, and graduated with the first class of Kuemper High School in 1955. After high school she stayed at home to care for her mother who was not in good health and care for her younger brothers. She also worked part-time at Jim’s Car Dealership.

On September 8, 1962, Alitta was united in marriage to Harold Lansink. The couple made their home on the farm in rural Ida Grove, Iowa, where they raised their six children: Roger, Renea, Mary, Duane, Karen, and Karla. For many years Alitta worked at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Odebolt, Iowa, as a nurse’s aide. In the fall of 1986 Alitta and Harold moved into Odebolt where they resided for 28 years. Harold passed away on September 25, 1997.

Alitta enjoyed ladies’ card club, dancing, walking, crocheting, reading, and doing puzzles. She took great pride in tending to her flower beds and canning the produce from her garden. Alitta was a faithful member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church where she served as a cantor, lector, and was on the ladies’ guild. She was also a part of the RSVP singers in Carroll, Iowa, for many years. Alitta was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who relished in time spent with her family. She will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Left to cherish her memory include her children Roger (Amy) Lansink of Odebolt, IA, Renea (Steve) Boerhave of Ashton, IA, Mary (Marv) Klein of Sanborn, IA, Duane (Kathy) Lansink of Sioux Rapids, IA, Karen (Mark) Lile of Des Moines, IA and Karla (Joe) Jungers of Hospers, IA; 22 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; brothers Larry (MaryLou) Gehling of Westside, IA, William Gehling, Jr. of Carroll, IA and Phil (Jayne) Gehling of Westside, IA; sisters Dorothy Hoffman of Dedham, IA and Marceal (John) Wittry of Breda, IA; and sisters-in-law Lenore Gehling of Elkhart, IA and Eileen Gehling of Wall Lake, IA; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Agnes Gehling; her husband Harold Lansink; brothers Arthur, Raymond and David Gehling; and granddaughter Jennifer Klein.