Olivia A. Wittrock

Olivia A. Wittrock, age 102, of Alexandria, died on Monday, February 21, 2022.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 21, 2022, at Zion Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Olivia's service will be recorded and available to view on her obituary page on the funeral home's website later in the afternoon of the 21st. Interment will take place at Parkers Prairie Cemetery.

Visitation is 4-7 p.m., Friday at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Olivia Adele was the daughter of Carl and Louise (Diedrich) Schauland. She was born on February 18, 1920, in rural Parkers Prairie, Minnesota. Olivia was baptized by Rev. H. E. Tessman and confirmed by Rev. H. J. Raedke both at St. James Lutheran Church, South Effington. She attended Parkers Prairie Elementary School/District 74 through the eighth grade and graduated from Parkers Prairie High School in 1938. Following her education, she remained at home to help her parents as her mother was not well. 

In 1945, Olivia moved to Indianapolis, Indiana to assist her brother and family with childcare and household work. They moved to Omaha, Nebraska in 1946, when her brother was called to the Lutheran Black Ministry. She assisted him as organist, Sunday School teacher, and other programs that needed help. Olivia was employed at World Insurance Company in Omaha in 1946, and continued to work there for 39 years. She was united in marriage to John Wittrock on September 30, 1951, at Hope Lutheran Church in Omaha. John’s father, Rev. Henry Wittrock, performed the ceremony. John was employed by the Anderson Accounting Firm. They resided in Omaha. 

Olivia and John assisted at Faith Lutheran Church, the inner-city mission, for 25 years. She served as organist, Sunday School teacher, organized various programs, and visited shut-ins. They assisted with the Project Embrace Program for children living in the projects. In 1983, they joined Zion Lutheran Church in Omaha where she remained a member until 2005.

John and Olivia traveled to Europe for a month in 1973, to visit her father’s relatives and relatives in the military. While in Austria they heard the Vienna Boys Choir. They spent several winters in Florida. Olivia attended two Russian concerts in Omaha. John passed away in 1996.

Olivia traveled with her brother, Melvin to Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Scotland. She also visited Alaska and Hawaii.

In 2005, she moved to Alexandria, Minnesota to finish her retirement years. Olivia was also able to enjoy many family events, even as her health declined. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; seven sisters; and eight brothers.

Olivia is survived by her brother, Ernest (Marilyn) Schauland of New Ulm; along with numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Memorials are preferred to Hospice of Douglas County.