Gertrude Larena Wittenburg was born on September 18, 1919 to Richard and Cynthia (Short) Atwood on a farm five miles northwest of Neligh, Nebraska, with midwife in attendance. She passed away February 19, 2014 in Long Beach, California. She received her first eight years of education in a one-room country schoolhouse with a wood-burning furnace, riding a horse there with her brother and two sisters.
In 1938, she graduated from Neligh High School, and for the next two years she worked as a domestic, a waitress, assistant midwife, and helped cook for thrashing crews for $3 a week.
In 1941, she enrolled in a beautician school in Lincoln, received her license, and worked on a commission in a local shop. A few years later she purchased her own shop in Norfolk, Nebraska.
On March 17, 1947, she married Elmer "Fritz" Wittenburg in Hiawatha, Kansas, and shortly afterwards they moved to Arlington, Nebraska, where she opened another beauty salon, and Fritz helped manage a grocery store.
In 1956, the couple moved to Costa Mesa where Fritz worked for Hughes in security.
They later moved to their home on East Luray in Long Beach.
"Trudy" enjoyed making things grow and always had a large garden. She loved to can her own fruits and vegetables. Her pastimes included knitting, crocheting, embroidering, and she was not afraid to tackle small projects requiring a screwdriver, hammer, and nails.
She and her husband Fritz purchased a motorhome and traveled extensively during retirement. They were members of the First Christian Church of Lakewood and attended regularly.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fritz, sister, Lucile Earing of Nebraska, brother, Olin Atwood of Kansas, and sister, Vera Rankin of Kansas. She is survived by seven nieces and nephews.
In 1938, she graduated from Neligh High School, and for the next two years she worked as a domestic, a waitress, assistant midwife, and helped cook for thrashing crews for $3 a week.
In 1941, she enrolled in a beautician school in Lincoln, received her license, and worked on a commission in a local shop. A few years later she purchased her own shop in Norfolk, Nebraska.
On March 17, 1947, she married Elmer "Fritz" Wittenburg in Hiawatha, Kansas, and shortly afterwards they moved to Arlington, Nebraska, where she opened another beauty salon, and Fritz helped manage a grocery store.
In 1956, the couple moved to Costa Mesa where Fritz worked for Hughes in security.
They later moved to their home on East Luray in Long Beach.
"Trudy" enjoyed making things grow and always had a large garden. She loved to can her own fruits and vegetables. Her pastimes included knitting, crocheting, embroidering, and she was not afraid to tackle small projects requiring a screwdriver, hammer, and nails.
She and her husband Fritz purchased a motorhome and traveled extensively during retirement. They were members of the First Christian Church of Lakewood and attended regularly.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fritz, sister, Lucile Earing of Nebraska, brother, Olin Atwood of Kansas, and sister, Vera Rankin of Kansas. She is survived by seven nieces and nephews.
Gertrude Larena Wittenburg was born on September 18, 1919 to Richard and Cynthia (Short) Atwood on a farm five miles northwest of Neligh, Nebraska, with midwife in attendance. She passed away February 19, 2014 in Long Beach, California. She received her first eight years of education in a one-room country schoolhouse with a wood-burning furnace, riding a horse there with her brother and two sisters.
In 1938, she graduated from Neligh High School, and for the next two years she worked as a domestic, a waitress, assistant midwife, and helped cook for thrashing crews for $3 a week.
In 1941, she enrolled in a beautician school in Lincoln, received her license, and worked on a commission in a local shop. A few years later she purchased her own shop in Norfolk, Nebraska.
On March 17, 1947, she married Elmer "Fritz" Wittenburg in Hiawatha, Kansas, and shortly afterwards they moved to Arlington, Nebraska, where she opened another beauty salon, and Fritz helped manage a grocery store.
In 1956, the couple moved to Costa Mesa where Fritz worked for Hughes in security.
They later moved to their home on East Luray in Long Beach.
"Trudy" enjoyed making things grow and always had a large garden. She loved to can her own fruits and vegetables. Her pastimes included knitting, crocheting, embroidering, and she was not afraid to tackle small projects requiring a screwdriver, hammer, and nails.
She and her husband Fritz purchased a motorhome and traveled extensively during retirement. They were members of the First Christian Church of Lakewood and attended regularly.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fritz, sister, Lucile Earing of Nebraska, brother, Olin Atwood of Kansas, and sister, Vera Rankin of Kansas. She is survived by seven nieces and nephews.
In 1938, she graduated from Neligh High School, and for the next two years she worked as a domestic, a waitress, assistant midwife, and helped cook for thrashing crews for $3 a week.
In 1941, she enrolled in a beautician school in Lincoln, received her license, and worked on a commission in a local shop. A few years later she purchased her own shop in Norfolk, Nebraska.
On March 17, 1947, she married Elmer "Fritz" Wittenburg in Hiawatha, Kansas, and shortly afterwards they moved to Arlington, Nebraska, where she opened another beauty salon, and Fritz helped manage a grocery store.
In 1956, the couple moved to Costa Mesa where Fritz worked for Hughes in security.
They later moved to their home on East Luray in Long Beach.
"Trudy" enjoyed making things grow and always had a large garden. She loved to can her own fruits and vegetables. Her pastimes included knitting, crocheting, embroidering, and she was not afraid to tackle small projects requiring a screwdriver, hammer, and nails.
She and her husband Fritz purchased a motorhome and traveled extensively during retirement. They were members of the First Christian Church of Lakewood and attended regularly.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fritz, sister, Lucile Earing of Nebraska, brother, Olin Atwood of Kansas, and sister, Vera Rankin of Kansas. She is survived by seven nieces and nephews.
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