TORRINGTON – Marcella (Kaasa) Dittenber, 102, passed peacefully on Jan. 11, 2021 at the Torrington Community Hospital.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the Rendezvous Center, at the Goshen County Fairgrounds, with Pastor Ted Williams and Pastor Bill officiating. A private family burial in the Valley View Cemetery will take place earlier.
Memorials may be made to the Torrington Senior Friendship Center in Marcella’s honor.
Marcella was born on Nov. 13, 1918 in Brandish, Neb. to Margaret and John Kaasa. After graduating from Lynch High School, she went on to college where she eventually earned her teaching certificate at The Teachers College in Greeley, Colo. In 1943, she married Herman Dittenber. They moved from Nebraska to Torrington in 1952 and there they raised their two children. Marcella taught elementary school for 33 years, eventually retiring from Lingle Elementary School.
She had a great love for playing musical instruments. She taught herself to play the harmonica, piano, violin, trumpet and accordion. She was the pianist at her local Seventh Day Adventist Church for several decades. She enjoyed spending time with her church family and friends as well as her God given family. She also enjoyed sewing, traveling around in her camper trailer, reading her bible and telling people about Jesus.
She is survived by her grandson Les (Christine) Amory; granddaughter Deanna (Lonnie) Britton; granddaughter Debbie (Jesse) Ziolkowski; grandson Brad Cress; 10 great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; nephew Pat (Diane) Lenhart; and niece Connie (Doug) Graybill.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband Herman; son Dennis Dittenber; daughter Janene Cress; sister Nylotis Schade; brother Floyd Kaasa; niece Gaylene and many of her dear church family friends.
