Andy Kitna was truly one of a kind.

We are so very glad he joined us, just wish he could have stayed longer.

Andy was born in Fortuna, California. He graduated from Fortuna High in 2005. He played soccer, basketball and Little League in Fortuna. He was never a great student but was smart, had a great memory and was so incredibly funny.

No one was more kind-hearted than Andy. He was a complicated young man but loved simple pleasures. He loved his family, movies, books and critters. An avid reader, most of his favorite authors were introduced to him by his father. They passed books back and forth his whole adult life. They also shared a love of the Lonesome Dove series, trading quotes often. He was also a fan of the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Bears. He enjoyed fishing at Ruth Lake with his buddies and bottom fishing off the Oregon Coast with his Dad.  Andy was a named member of the Grouse Mountain Hunting club and was a long-time blood donor.

Andy grew up with shelter pets. The two summers before he was old enough to drive he volunteered at Miranda’s Rescue. His beloved grandmother helped get him to his little job there, cleaning out cages and walking dogs. Once he bought his own home he had fur friends Murray and then Mabel. His first real job was working as the kennel attendant for the Fortuna Police Department.  

Andy then worked at the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department as a Correctional Deputy from 2006 until his death. He was known there for his kindness and calm demeanor. We thank the Sheriff’s Department for their nice press release and are strengthened by all the kind comments that followed. He was loved and respected by so many more people than he realized.

Andy married the love of his life, Samantha, in 2016.  Even though the marriage didn’t last, we are so grateful for the joy that relationship brought to his life.

Andy suffered from complications of Type I Diabetes and depression but it was an undiagnosed intestinal bleed that took his life. Thank you to Dr. Nathan Brinckhaus for trying to get Andy to follow through with testing that might have detected it.

Andy Kitna is survived by parents Kris and Edna and sister Emily. He also leaves behind Aunt Betty Rowell and cousins Kelli and Kurt in Santa Rosa. He is predeceased by his grandparents Jim and Trudy Kitna, grandmother Lillian Rowell, and uncles Marvin and Roger Rowell.

We’d like to thank the law enforcement community for all the kindness and offers.

We are a little family in shreds so services will be private.  

UVA UVAM VIVENDO VARIA FIT Safe journey Sonny Boy.