White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Clarence M. Bitterman, 82 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died on Thursday, April 6, 2017, in Independence. He was born on September 12, 1934, in Cerro Gordo County near Nora Springs, Iowa, the son of Fred LeRoy and Gladys Lucille (Palmer) Bitterman.  He graduated from high school in Hazleton, Iowa, with the Class of 1953.  On June 22, 1953, he and the former Marian D. Reiter were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein, Iowa.  Mr. Bitterman worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation for 37 years.  He retired in 1990.  After that, he was a truck driver for Hawkeye Tile in Jesup, Iowa, and Miller Quarry in Independence.  He was an accomplished wood worker.  He made furniture and clocks among other items for friends and family.  And he enjoyed time spent fishing in northeast Iowa.  Mr. Bitterman was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence.

Mr. Bitterman is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marian, 3 sons, Robert (Marlys) Bitterman of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gerald (Rhonda Ramler) Bitterman of Manchester, Iowa, and Steve (Rhonda) Bitterman of Independence, 2 daughters, LuAnn Sand of Independence and Sheri (Keith Hartkemeyer) Bitterman of Rowley, Iowa, 11 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and 1 sister, Doretta Brandhorst of Waterloo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 1 sister and brother-in-law, Dolores and Robert Aery, 1 brother, Robert, in infancy, 1 brother-in-law, William Brandhorst, and 1 son-in-law, John Sand.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 10, 2017, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence with Rev. Greg DeBoer officiating.  Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence.  Friends may call for visitation from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 9, 2017, at the White Funeral Home in Independence.