Maurice "Bill" Nittler, age 78, a resident of Belen, N.M., passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2013. He was born December 24, 1934, in Shickley, Neb., to Rose and Frank Nittler. He was a member of Our Lady of Belen and of the Knights of Columbus. Bill and Sally moved to Belen in 2004 after his retirement from the First National Bank in Cortez. Bill devoted 50 years to a career in banking.
He was always involved in the community in which he lived and joined service oriented clubs: The Jaycees in Denver and The Lions Club in Mancos, his home before moving to Belen.
As a teenager, Bill began radio DX-ing with his brother, Francis, and he continued to enjoy the hobby throughout his entire life. He and friends started a DX club and published newsletters on the subject. He also enjoyed stamp collecting, and recently, he and his wife Sally joined the geo-caching community, an organization of people who enjoyed finding caches hidden by other members using GPS coordinates to find the site of the hidden caches.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rose and Frank Nittler; brothers, Francis Nittler, Leroy Nittler; sisters, Rosella Graham and Mildred Viola; and grandson, Toby Jones.
Bill is survived by his beloved bride of nearly 56 years, Sally; children and spouses, Tammy Hettchen and husband Bob, Robin Nittler, Jennifer Nittler, Andrea Stevens, Matthew Nittler and wife, Brandy, Lesley Davis and husband, Greg, Ethan Nittler and wife, Kimberly; grandchildren, Matthew, Corey, Emilee, Kristopher and spouse, Kimberly, Kelton, Mackenzie, Brandon and spouse, Katie, Caitlin, Paige, Summer, Harley, Cody, and Dylan; great grandchildren, Samantha, Nathan, Hailey, Emma Leigh, and Miley Raye; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions to the Belen Knights of Columbus 121 S. 9th St., Belen, N.M., or Catholic Daughters, 101 A. N 10th St., Belen, NM.
Services will be held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, Wednesday, April 17, beginning with a Rosary at 11:30 a.m., followed by the Mass at 12 p.m. Interment will be private. Serving as pallbearers will be Ethan Nittler, Matthew Nittler, Robert Hettchen and Greg Davis. Honorary pallbearers will be Kristopher Nittler, Matthew Hettchen, Corey Hettchen and Kelton Stevens.
Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., (505) 864-4448, where an online guest register is available at www.noblinfuneralservice.com.
