Ferdinand Joseph Citterman was born on May 23rd, 1925, to Joseph and Agnes (Friske) Citterman near Ivanhoe, Minnesota on the Citterman family farm in Royal Township, Lincoln County, Minnesota. He was baptized, received first holy communion and was confirmed at St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno. MN. He was raised in the Catholic faith and was a lifelong member of the church. Ferd attended country school through the 7th grade and then continued farming with his father and brothers within a few miles of their birth/home place. He spoke Polish at home until he had to learn and speak English to attend country school. Ferd entered the United States Army in 1951, honorably serving active duty in the Korean War as Staff Sgt, mortar specialist at times supervising three squads. He was presented with two Bronze Stars for his heroic meritorious efforts and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. Ferd liked to share stories of his time in Korea as many can attest and was very proud of his country and service. However, during active duty, he also wore out his first communion rosary and prayer book that his Mother sent him, of which he paid tribute to the only reason he was able to return unscathed. On October 20th, 1953 (at age 28) he married Mary Ann Drietz at St. John Cantius Catholic Church and lived on the farm directly north of Wilno, MN. There they started their family and had 4 children: Joseph, Kathleen, Theresa and Patrick. In 1981, Ferd bought a farm and moved his family to Estelline, SD. It was there that he experienced a farming accident that caused him to retire from farming. After farming Ferd moved his family to Lake Wilson, Minnesota and where he started driving truck and pulling homes for a company out of Sleepy Eye, MN. He pulled wide load homes within the 5-state area as well as the states of Washington, Texas and Michigan, and was well known for his precise ability to position a home into the most difficult spaces provided. Ferd also worked for the Farm Service Agency out of Brookings, SD planting trees on CRP acres. This position brought out his constant desire to improve implements wherever he could (which he had also applied to his farm implements) by modifying them for efficiency. He developed a tree spacing/planting wheel which many agencies then ordered for their programs. Ferd and Mary Ann relocated a few times before settling in Sleepy Eye, MN. It was very important to both, with the shifting of their children’s residences and their own medical needs, to locate themselves as close as possible to a central proximity of their children.
For the last 11 years, Ferd has resided independently at Lake Villa Maria, Sleepy Eye, MN marking his 100th birthday last May. He was avid in researching foods, supplements and vitamins to improve health for not only his own well-being but passing his knowledge and recommendations to all he cared about or came in contact with. Up until his admission to the hospital on February 20th, 2026, he enjoyed his weekly independent visits to Walmart in New Ulm, Minnesota by hopping on the bus with his electric chair and doing his own shopping. And never fail, when his children visited, he always would follow up with a phone call to be sure they made it home safely if they didn’t call him first to let him know they were home. Or telling them to stay home if he saw the weather was not good for travel. In addition to his health research, Ferd liked to pass the time in Sleepy Eye, by watching the farm channel, keeping bird feeders full, trying new recipes and finding ways to keep the “darn” squirrels away from the bird food.
Privileged and grateful for having shared and been a part of his life:
Are his children; Joseph (his wife; Geraldine) Citterman in Cambridge, MN; Kathleen (her husband; Joseph) Thooft in Ipswich, SD; Theresa F. Citterman in Chaska, MN; and Patrick Citterman in Sioux Falls, SD. His grandchildren; Stacy Dresser in Aurora, CO; Kristin (her husband; Nate) Reiss in Blaine, MN; Jennifer (her husband; Josh) Moen in Oak Grove, MN; Michelle (her husband; Roger) Martineau in Cottage Grove, MN; Rebecca LaBatte in Tucson, AZ; Jessica (her husband; Travis) Jost in Hoven, SD; Tonia Thooft in Sioux Falls, SD; Michael (his wife, Amber) VanIperen in Marshall, MN; Felicia (her Husband; Spencer) Grimmius in Lake Wilson, MN; Myles Herschberger in Chaska, MN; and Ryan Herschberger in Chaska, MN. His great-grandchildren; Brianna Dresser, Hunter Dresser, Nicholas Dresser, Charlie Dresser, Logan Reiss, Emma Reiss, Sienna Moen, Zoe Moen, Sheyenne LaBatte, Skyler LaBatte, Vivian Jost, Olivia Jost, William Grimmius, Bennett Grimmius and Nicolas Grimmius and Sister(in-laws): Esther Hoffmann, Joyce Citterman, Beatty Dubbeldee and Darleen Drietz and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his wife; Mary Ann Citterman, parents; Joseph and Agnes Citterman, grandchildren; Angelia Thooft, and Paul Citterman, sister; Clara (John) Biranowski, brother; Ambrose (Bernice) Citterman, brother; Emil (Audrey) Citterman, brother; Clemence (Theresa) Citterman, brother; Ray Citterman, sister; Evelyn (Walter) Panka, sister; Bernice (Roy) Chlub, sister; Leona (LeRoy) Hauschild, in-laws; Wallace Hoffman, Claire Jerzak, Garfield (Virginia) Drietz, Robert Drietz, Jerry (Florence) Drietz, Jack (DeAnn) Drietz, Bonnie Drietz.
May God continue to bless Ferdinand through the lives of his, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Be free of your pains and sorrows of this world. Let our Heavenly Father give you an eternity of the rest and peace you have been searching for, the happiness and joy you have earned, and the love you truly deserve, in a home you will never have to leave.