1st Wife: Maria Gardzielewska (c. 1849-1885)
2ND Wife: Maria Theresia Kachmarzinski (1868-1901)
3rd Wife: Kate Urbanska (1832-1929)

Ryley Resident Is Celebrating 100th Birthday. Joseph Litke, Born In Germany, Attains Great Age. RYLEY, Feb 11 - Joseph Litke, a resident of this district is one hundred years old today, having been born in Germany in 1831. Hearing glowing reports of America, he decided at age of 28 to come to Detroit, Michigan. The next year he married, but his wife died in 1876 leaving him with eight children to care for.
The call of the west now reached Mr. Litke and feeling that his family might have better opportunities in Minnesota, the next year found him there where he married again. Eleven children were born to this union, but in 1898 he was again left a widower.
The pioneer spirit was always strong in Mr. Litke and the great opportunities of the Canadian Prairies being the chief topic of conversation about this time, Mr. Litke again took the "western fever" and moved to Alberta, homesteading near Round Hill in 1900. He was among the successful farmers of this district, but in 1922, owing to ill health, he decided to try Kelowna, B.C.
After eight years here, his third wife died and he has since made his home with his daughter, Mrs. W. Klawitter of this district. He is still quite strong and able to get about and enjoy himself. He lives in the future and is keenly interested in the affairs of the day. Last fall he spent an enjoyable afternoon at one of the neighbors watching the combined harvester and thresher work. He has seen many changes in methods of harvesting, but he is not one to lament the losing of the laborious methods of his younger days.

Obituary. (no source shown)
Ryley Centenarian Dies. Joseph Litke Was Born in Austria (sic Germany) in 1831. Special to Edmonton Journal). RYLEY, Aug 31. Death occurred suddenly, Wednesday of Joseph Litke, aged 102. He had been living with his daughter, Mrs. Klawitter for the past four years. Mr Litke was born in Austria (sic Germany) in 1831 and emigrated to Detroit in 1859, where he married the following year. In 1877 he moved to Minnesota and lived there until 1900 when he settled on a homestead at Round Hill, Alberta. He spent eight years in British Columbia before coming to Ryley.

Centenarian Buried. RYLEY, Sep 8 - Joseph Litke, 102, was buried in St. Anthony's cemetery north of here on Saturday. Rev. Father Maloney officiated. A large number of neighbors and relatives attended. Deceased is survived by 12 children, several of whom traveled from various parts of United States to attend the funeral. There are also living 54 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Born in Austria (sic Germany) the late Mr. Litke homesteaded here 33 years ago.
Contributor: Ruth McDonald Litke (50025174) • [email protected]
7 August 2021 (Add Footnote):
For the benefit of future generations, much of the information in Joseph Litke's Bio is incorrect. The early records in Minnesota support a birth year of about 1844. However, the birth month of February is quite consistent. It seems the Older He Got, "The Older He Got." He appears on the 1875 Minnesota State Census with his wife, Mary, and an infant son. He is still living in Morrison County, Minnesota with his second wife, Mary Theresa, on the 1900 Census with his age shown as 56. His Initial Application for Citizenship was filed in December of 1888, in which he states that he was born in Poland in the year 1845 and arrived in the Port of New York in 1872. His Application for Marriage License to his third wife, Kate Urbanska, filed in Morrison County, Minnesota, April 1901 is signed with an "X" indicating he probably did not read or write English; however, family members report that he spoke several languages.