Steve L. Quitta, Jr. died peacefully at his home in Smithville on August 13th, 2010, with his children and grandchildren surrounding him.  He was born in Smithville on the 11th of November, 1925, the second son of Olga Kroulik and Steve Quitta, Sr.

He graduated from Smithville High School in 1943 and entered the US Army, serving during WWII from 1944 until 1946.  He was honorably discharged, achieving the rank of corporal.  Steve then attended Southwest Texas State Teachers’ College in San Marcos, graduating with a degree in Industrial Arts in 1950.  While at college, he met Kitty Moll of Dallas.  They married in January 1949.  In the span of their life together, they raised 9 children.

After college, Steve taught in Temple then Crane, Texas for 5 years.  He then moved his family to South Dakota and taught at St. Paul’s Mission, Marty, SD for 11 years.  After Marty, Steve worked for the next 5 years first at the University of South Dakota and then in Washington DC with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Public Health, Housing and Urban Development.

Steve had always intended to return to Smithville and did so in 1972.  He took the position of Executive Director of Combined Community Action, whose objective was working toward permanent and constructive change in the community.  After 7 years with CCA, Steve retired to open a hometown business.  Shetsko was a home decorating, restoration, and remodeling business on Main Street.  After Shetsko, Steve retired to do what he loved best:  gardening, family gatherings, holding his grandbabies and watching them grow, reading and adding to his subscription list, and sustaining his family with his solid connection to the earth and his devotion to them.

Steve was a loving son, a strong and constant father, a devoted brother, a silly Papa, a committed boss, and a solid friend.  He was a craftsman, a builder, a farmer, a voice for the under-privileged and, mostly, a quiet, modest, and generous man of integrity.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Olga Kroulik and Steve L. Quitta, Sr., brother Fred William, daughter Carole Anne Heart, son-in-law Robert Harris, nephew Mark Quitta and the mother of his children, Kitty Moll Quitta.

He is survived by six daughters; Kathy Quitta and husband Richard of Belton, TX, Anne Harris of Smithville, TX, Mari Mikulenka and husband David of Hockley, TX, Jeanne Mitchell and husband Mike of Katy, TX, Davidica Blum and husband Blake Brodersen of Georgetown, TX, and Maggie Rachael Quitta of Austin, TX.  He is survived by three sons; Pete and wife Laurie of LaGrange, TX, Bill and wife Linda of Yakima, WA, and Tony and wife Amy of Smithville, TX.  Also surviving are his brother James and wife Betty of Winnfield, La., and many nieces and nephews both in Louisiana and the Dallas, TX area.

Steve was very proud of his twenty-four grandchildren and six great grandchildren and he did an amazing job of remembering them on their birthdays and at the holidays.

Grandchildren:  Chante Heart, Heather Ueckert, Kelley and Brennan Harris; Andrea, Erica and Jason Mikulenka; Adam, Kiel, and Drew Mitchell; Whitney, Rachel and Victoria Quitta; Miriam Blum Taylor and Liz Bustos, Pierce, Luke and Simone Brodersen; Emily, Joseph, Vincent and Madeline Quitta-Carney; Shelby and Colin Quitta.

Great Grandchildren:  Major and Lindsie Ueckert; Katelynn and Dakota Arcemont; Liam Taylor; and Emery Bustos.

Services will be held Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 11:00 a.m., St. Paul’s Catholic Church.  No visitation will be held prior to services.

Please share your memories of Steve with his family at mrachaelq@yahoo.com.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Smithville Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels, Asera Care Hospice, or a charity of one’s choice which supports Steve’s mission of service to others.