Constance Ann (Mallow) Litzel was born February 23, 1949, in Osage, Iowa to Giles and Imogene (Love) Mallow. She passed away peacefully at her home on December 12, 2017 surrounded by her family and friends. Connie chose to be cremated and wanted her "celebration of life" to be held in June.

Connie graduated from Osage Community High School in 1967 where she was a member of Honor Society and played timpani in the marching band. She loved swimming, was a lifeguard, a water safety instructor, managed the St. Ansgar community swimming pool and won many swimming medals. She also served as a Luther League Convention chaperone in NYC for her two younger sisters.

Connie loved music! She was a very accomplished pianist and later in life was a drummer in the Ballard Community Band. She attended Iowa State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Iowa. Connie married John R. Litzel of Ames on June 6, 1971. They made their home in Ames.

Connie was proud to have served three years active duty from 1971 - 1974 as a Navy nurse at Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Illinois where she received the rank of Lieutenant. Her proudest time in the Navy was in 1973 when the Navy POWs were released from captivity after many years in Vietnam prisons. She was the director of Nursing when they were cleared through Great Lakes. She always remembered the major hugs she got from each of them. The first thing they wanted to do was to "go to town". It was a very hectic time for military personnel.

Connie was stricken with Lupus at the age of 25 and spent the next 43 years of her life fighting the ravages of the disease. She spent thousands of hours with doctors and in hospitals, but was always optimistic about beating the disease. When her kidneys failed in 1987, she was very fortunate to have received a transplant from her brother Chuck, which lasted for 26 years. Kudos go to her brother, Chuck, for extending her life for so many years. We all thank him so very much.

She and John spent all the time they could traveling. They drove all over the US and visited many foreign countries, took ocean cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean and four to the Mediterranean. She loved the food in Greece and the "forty shades of green" of Ireland. She got sick on one cruise ship and had to see the doctor. He told her that with her condition she should stay home. She told him that she would rather "die on a cruise ship" before having to stay home.

She volunteered as a Parrish Nurse, working with shut-ins and writing newsletters for various churches, she was also a co- founder of the Iowa Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America along with Dianne Leland of Ames, volunteered at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames and the Free Medical Clinic. She was a member of Gamma Sigma Theta Tau nursing honorary.

Connie was a loving wife, mother and a grandmother to the five most gorgeous and wonderful grandchildren on this planet. She will always be remembered for her friendly smile, willingness to help other people and her "never give up" spirit.

She is survived by her husband John Litzel of Ames, daughter Elizabeth Gull of Ames, grandchildren Isabelle Peterson. Lynden Peterson, Madelyn Peterson of Des Moines, Lillyana Gull and Kayden Gull of Cedar Rapids, a brother Charles (Kathryn) Mallow of Osage, sister Claudia Deaton of St. Ansgar, Crystal (Gregory) Darrow of Fort Myers, Carolyn (Marty) Cowell of Clear Lake and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Giles and Imogene Mallow of Osage.


A gathering of friends and family will be 4-6:00 p.m. Thursday, June 7, 2018 at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care 414 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa. With a 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 8, 2018 Celebration of Life memorial service at St. Andrews Lutheran Church 209 Colorado Ames, Iowa. The family would like you to join them following the service for a luncheon at the church. Military burial will be at 1:00 p.m. at Story Memory Gardens, 3215 S Duff Ave, Ames, IA 50010.

John is Having a get together at his house, 2632 N. Dakota, after the cemetery for family and friends.

Also, on Saturday, starting at noon, he is hosting a BBQ. Since there is no way of knowing how many people will be there, he requests you bring a lawn chair and something to share at the table if you choose.

Memorials will be given to Youth and Shelter Services (YSS) Family Foster Care and Adoption Services in Ames which meant so much to Connie and her family.