Obituary of Beverly June Pitcher

Beverly June Pitcher, age 93, went home to be with her Lord on July 6, 2023 after a brief illness.

She was born at home in Zion, Il. on June 14, 1930, and lived most of her life in Zion.

She was a lifelong member of Christian Catholic Church, now Christ Community Church.  Her parents came to Zion because they had heard it was to be a city of God.

Bev was very active at CCC, from serving in the Zion Guardettes when she was younger to later organizing funeral dinners for hurting families.

While growing up with 6 siblings, as well as her grandfather living with them, Bev learned the real meaning of family. Other than God, family was the most important thing to her for her entire life.

The summer before her Freshman year of High School Bev met the love of her life, Atwood Pitcher. They dated all through high school and were married, on March 24,1951

In High School Bev was chosen for the Queens Court.  She had a close group of friends. They loved doing things together and decided they should have a name for their group. They decided on “The Wolf Pack”. These friends remained close their entire lives.

In the summers Bev worked for Abbot Lab in North Chicago. After graduating from Zion Benton High School, Bev attended Lake Forest College extension in Waukegan, earning an Associates Degree. The Superintendent of Zion grade schools contacted her and told her they were short of teachers and would she consider teaching instead of continuing with college.  She started as a substitute and then taught 4th grade at Lakeview School.

While Atwood was in the Air Force they lived in Montana and then Kansas. Returning home to Zion their family grew. With five children they loved to camp with some of Bev’s siblings and their families.

But their favorite vacation spot was beautiful Rainy Lake in International Falls Minnesota.  Much of the year was filled with plans for the next summer’s trip.  Even if the walleye weren’t biting on her “little Cleo”, they so enjoyed spending time there with family and friends.

Beverly is survived by their five children, daughter, Kathy (Sherwin) Rankin and their children, Suzanne (Dan) Stanford, grandchildren Caleb, Connor and Colton Stanford, and Ellyssa (Alex) Castillo, grandchildren Teddy and Benjamin Castillo; son, Ron Pitcher and his children, Michael, David (Heidi) and Emily; son, Ken (Denise) Pitcher and their children, Tanner and Spencer; daughter, Sheri (Craig) Gatto and their son, Tyler; and son, Larry Pitcher.

Also surviving her are her brothers-in-law, Jim (Jeanne) Pitcher and Joe McDowell, and sister-in-law Bonnie Wolf; as well as many, much loved, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 70 years, Clark Atwood Pitcher, her parents Christie and Gertrude Wolf, as well as her  brothers, Bernard (Arlene) Wolf, Norman Wolf and Duane Wolf, and sisters, Helen (Milt) Bauer, Thelma (Glen) Leech, Barbara McDowell, and Marilyn Scheck.

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 14th from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m. at Christ Community Church, 2500 Dowie Memorial Drive, Zion.  A funeral service will follow at 11:30 a.m. at the church with Pastors Dan Stanford and Eliel Rojas officiating.

The funeral will be live streamed at congdonfuneralhome.com and available to be viewed later as well.

If you wish to give a memorial gift the family has asked that you donate to the Christ Community Church Benevolent/Funeral Dinner Fund.