Local World War II Veteran Passes Away at 99

Leo Kittle served in the Mediterranean Sea area during WWII.

Leo Kittle. Photo via PG Gentrup.

(Dearborn County, Ind.) - Southeastern Indiana has lost another member of America’s Greatest Generation.

Leo Kittle, of Aurora, passed away Sunday at the age of 99.

After graduating from Rising Sun High School in 1941, Kittle was drafted into the U.S. Army on March 17, 1943., where he earned the rank of Sargeant. He served his country for three years in the Mediterranean theatre with much time spent in India. On February 19, 1946, Kittle was given an honorable discharge and returned back home to Ohio County.  He was discharged in February of 1946.

In July of 1957, Kittle purchased the Otto Sawdon farm just west of Aurora off of U.S. 50. He married later that year to Evelyn Jean (Hilker), and later had three boys. 

Kittle was a local 4H club leader, serving on the Dearborn County 4-H board of directors. He was also a member of the F.A.R.M. Club of Southeastern Indiana, and the Hartford Masonic Lodge, in addition to serving on the Farm Bureau Co-op and Seagram’s Credit Union. 

Friends will be received Friday, September 1 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Aurora, IN 6060 Blair Rd Aurora, IN. Services will be held at 2:00 PM to be conducted by Pastor Bruce Kittle. Interment will be at the Rising Sun New Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Aurora.

According to PG Gentrup, he knows of 11 remaining World War II Veterans in Dearborn and Ohio counties. They are Clarence Cook, Tom Cook, George Klopp, JC Lewis, George Lingg, Lawrence Lyttle, Bob Savage, George Shelby, Bob Browning, Bill Elder, and Leroy Guard.

If you know of any living World War II vets from southeastern Indiana, contact Eagle Country 99.3 by sending an email to news@eaglecountryonline.com.