Jill Kitowski (née von Asch) passed away peacefully on July 25, 2026, at the age of 82.
Jill was born in 1944 in the village of Puunene on the island of Maui, Hawaii, to Olive Schehl (née Long) and Dr. George von Asch. She spent her earliest years in Hawaii before her family moved to La Porte County, where she lived for the rest of her life. She married C.T. Kitowski, an attorney who served as Michigan City’s City Attorney and as Chief Deputy Prosecutor of La Porte County, in 1967. They remained together until his death in 2005.
Jill graduated from La Porte High School and attended Purdue University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology. She later earned an MLS degree as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, as well as an EMNA, or Executive Master of Nonprofit Administration, from the University of Notre Dame.
Her career began as a social worker for La Porte County, and she later taught sociology at the Purdue North Central campus. At St. Anthony Hospital laboratory in Michigan City, she led the blood bank. Later, she headed operations at the La Porte Regional Physician Network. She was a long-time, active member of the Presbyterian Church of La Porte where she also served as an elder and a lay preacher, and she participated in the broader church of the Presbytery of Wabash Valley.
Jill loved her pets and enjoyed showing Norwegian Elkhounds and Australian Terriers at area dog shows. In recent years, she was devoted to her Standard Poodles and her cats. An avid football fan, she loved watching Purdue and Notre Dame games on Saturdays and traveling to away games. Sundays were often spent watching (and critiquing) NFL games. She also enjoyed golf and took many golf trips, or “boondoggles,” as she called them, and belonged for many years to women’s golf leagues in Michigan City and La Porte.
Jill is survived by her three children, Mary Solada (Ted Clark) of Indianapolis, Indiana; John Kitowski (Patricia Elizondo) of Ellicott City, Maryland; and Robin Kitowski of Bloomington, Indiana. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Kyle Kitowski of Washington, D.C. and Benedict and Mary Lyda Hobson of Bloomington, Indiana. She also leaves behind her stepmother, Marilyn Burrows of La Porte, Indiana; her stepsister, Susan (Jim) Schmidt; her stepbrother, Michael (Myong) von Asch; and her nephews, David Seng (Elizabeth Einset) and Peter Seng (Stacy Enxing Seng). She was blessed with many dear friends and treasured the time she spent with them.
Cremation has taken place with Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel in La Porte.
In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the La Porte County Animal Control & The Jane Bernard Animal Adoption Center, 2855-IN 2, La Porte, Indiana 46350.
Family and friends are invited to light a virtual candle, share a memory, or leave a message of comfort for the family by visiting esslingfuneralhome.com
