Herb Stitz, 92, passed away Friday, March 1, 2024. On September 11, 1931, he was born in Lafayette, IN to Herbert O. Stitz Sr. and Goldie (Beasey) Stitz. He attended Highland Grade School and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1949.

As a young boy growing up in Lafayette, Herb held many summer jobs, working for the Monon Railroad, either on the line, or as a ticket agent. He had a paper route throughout his young life and into high school. He eventually sold his paper route to a neighbor friend who later became the Catholic Priest who married Herb and Shirley Ann Finch at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Lafayette on May 14, 1960. They would soon celebrate 64 years.  Fr. Schultz reminded Herb again that day that he had charged him way too much for that route!

Herb learned the game of golf as a caddy at the Lafayette Country Club and played throughout his life. Early in their marriage, Herb came home from the golf course, put a club in Shirley’s hand and said: I just signed you up for lessons.

After graduating from high school, Herb enrolled at Purdue University. In February 1951, he left Purdue to serve in the Korean Conflict, stationed with the Eighth Army Headquarters in Taegu and later Seoul, Korea for 18 months. Upon his honorable discharge in February 1954, he returned to Purdue, graduating in 1957 with a degree in Economics. He later graduated from the NABAC School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Herb was employed with Purdue National Bank/Banc One for 30 years, retiring as Senior Vice President of Investments in 1987. He completed his banking career with David A. Noyes & Company brokerage firm in Indianapolis.

Herb never hired work done at home. He could paint and wallpaper with the professionals, very particular throughout the process. He built a complete bedroom outfit from solid cherry lumber, working evenings and weekends in his father’s well-equipped workshop. Herb built a family room onto he and Shirley’s first home, and in 1970, took on a major project, building a Plexiglass-Masonite likeness, to scale, of the new 10-story Purdue National Bank building (now Chase) that sits at the corner of Second and Main streets in downtown Lafayette. The project consisted of 55 hours of diligent work which Herb loved.

In 2013, Herb was excited to be on the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. with other veterans and especially happy to have his grandson, Hayden Guerra, as his guardian for the day.

Herb was a former member of the Lafayette Jaycees, The Breakfast Optimist Club and an advisor for Junior Achievement for several years. He was a former member of the Lafayette Country Club and a longtime member of the Elks Club.

Herb and Shirley spent 16 winters at their home in Bonita Springs, Fl, playing many rounds of golf where Herb recorded his second “Hole-in-One”.  Their travels to Europe were the highlight of their lives, spending time always with Shirley’s aunts, uncles and cousins in Germany.  Herb remained an avid fan of the Jeff Bronchos and the Purdue Boilermakers.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley and two daughters: Marianne Jenkins of Carmel, IN and Natalie and Michael Guerra of Birmingham, MI. Four grandchildren of whom he was so very proud: Cole Jenkins of Carmel, IN; Hayden Guerra of Dallas, TX; Ellen Guerra of Asheville, NC; and Haley Guerra, a freshman at the University of Michigan.  Also surviving are his brothers-in-law George Finch of Lafayette and James Finch of West Lafayette.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Donald Stitz.

We’re grateful for the care and compassion given to Herb during these last 9 months at The Springs at Lafayette. Those wishing may contribute in Herb’s name to Lafayette Urban Ministry.

Visitation will be from 9:00 am until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 535 W State Street, West Lafayette. Interment will be at St. Boniface Cemetery.