Eddie J. Nitka, 90, a lifelong resident of the Stevens Point area and longtime sign painter who ran Midwest Sign and Awning, died Friday, June 12, 2009, at Whispering Pines Assisted Living in Plover while under the care of Ministry Home Care-Hospice Services. He had a long battle with prostate cancer, complicated with pneumonia.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, with the Rev. Al Jakubowski officiating. Burial will be in Guardian Angel Cemetery.
Visitation will be at the Shuda Funeral Chapel in Stevens Point from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and again from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Tuesday. A general rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral chapel.
The family asks that Catholic Masses be offered for him in lieu of flowers.
Condolences may be offered online at www.shudafuneral.com.
Mr. Nitka was born in Polonia, a son of the late Michael and Mary (Bilawski) Nitka.
He began his career in sign painting in 1951 in the Fox Theater on Main Street in Stevens Point, with a studio on the second floor. He did all the sign work and the maintenance for the theater. After several years he moved to another building to conduct the business.
He then moved the Midwest Sign and Awning shop to land he purchased along Highway 66 and expanded to handle the largest of hand-lettered sign work. Through the years the business grew to involve designing building installation and maintenance of outdoor advertising. He retired in 1986 after 42 years in the sign business, but continued to letter signs for another eight years.
He was an active member of Wisconsin Advertising Association and the National Electrical Association.
He built his home in Park Ridge in 1963 and prided himself with a well-groomed lawn and flower display that earned him the "Yard of the Month" award in two consecutive years from the Stevens Point Chamber of Commerce.
He also created original hand-painted Christmas decorations that have adorned the front yard of the Nitka family home for more than 45 years.
Survivors include two nieces, Claudia (Christian) Gorder and Debi (Don) Shannon; two nephews; Marc (Diane) Daniloff and Kevin (Kathy) Nitka; three great-nieces; two great-nephews; two great-great-nephews; and a dear friend of the family, Grace Kranig.
He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Emil, Jerry and Ben; and one sister, Ester.