Martin Pitters

By Jochen Wagner and Elfie Wagner.

Today we celebrate a life of great fulfillment, adapting to change, hard work and perseverance. Although being afflicted with many physical ailments throughout his life our father and “Ota” as the grand- and great grandchildren called him, he always managed to overcome hardship by thinking positively, being humorous and always learning new skills. Our dad and mom immigrated to Florida from Romania in 1976, giving up their brand new house and all their possessions for the price of freedom from communism, arriving with only 40 pounds per person. They both survived the great hardship of labor camps in Russia, and they succeeded in building a new life for all of us in Florida thanks to their tough living circumstances, their strong work ethic and pride in their hard work.

While struggling to learn the language Dad used his knowledge of tools and equipment to fix and improvise. He loved repairing broken pipes and fixtures, plant trees from the seeds and trim hedges, and never got rid of anything old. He was hired at Vista Motors in Pompano as a maintenance worker based on a first impression: a big smile, hands on, always trying his hardest to complete a job, promising he would never give up. Driving was his hobby and he passed driving school with flying colors.

Christ Church with then Pastor Golder offered mom and dad a job as sextons for many years. They took great pride in keeping the church immaculate and conserving energy. Mom often mentioned how good it felt inside when complemented for a job well done. Starting early and going to bed late, our dad made sure to teach the young ones to pick up after themselves and learn how to build things. He hated to see any young person lazyng around. His fun times were the times when the family gathered around the big table enjoying a grill fest. He was always looking forward to attending the church service on Sundays; he loved mingling and sharing stories with all the church members he was very fond of.

After mother’s passing dad slowly started to age. He still looked young and handsome but the rapid deterioration of the right hip and the progression of kidney disease forced him to become weaker and it was difficult to smile, and to walk. Within 2 years he progressed from a cane to a wheelchair. The inability to remain independent really dampened his spirits as he was notably upset that he could no longer complete the work that he spent so much time in his life enjoying. As he became more and more wheelchair bound he longed to see the great grandchildren: he would always shake hands with them and smile when watching them play.

No doubt, they will miss him because they felt his great love.

And we, his children and grandchildren will always remember

Him as he was: hard working, laughing often and enjoying life, loving to spend time with his family.

Dear Dad and Ota: You blessed our lives with unforgettable memories, thank you for that. We know you will be watching over us from Gods Kigdom where you will be reunited with mom and all loved ones before you. No more pain and suffering! Rest in peace!

09/25/2014

Arrangements under the direction of Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.