Christa Upton

Christa (Ittzes) Upton was born Feb. 7, 1970, in Columbus, Ohio, to Nick and Judy Ittzes.
While still in grade school she and her family moved to Hillsboro, Mo., where she graduated high school from Christian Outreach Day School.
In 1992 she graduated with a degree in music, Summa Cum Laude, from Taylor University in Upland, Ind., where she met the love of her life, Steve Upton. They got married less than a month after her graduation and lived in various places (including South Whitley, Ind.; St. Louis, Mo.; Logansport, Ind.; and Custer and Hot Springs, S.D.) during their 32 years of marriage.
Christa was a talented dancer and pianist, performing and teaching music in school, at church, in recitals and at home with family. Her gift for teaching extended well beyond music as she faithfully homeschooled her three children from K-12.
Her chronic illness did not keep her from being productive, as she wrote children’s books and house-building books, created a website and reached multitudes of people with her story of dealing with and persevering through multiple chemical sensitivity.
She enjoyed the simple things of life, like flowers, birds, rainbows, deer, cats and sunsets. It’s no wonder she loved the Black Hills of South Dakota, a place she visited often as a child to see grandparents that lived in Hot Springs. She counted it a blessing to live in that area for the last 14 years of her life and share with her children the sights and experiences of pleasant childhood memories.
On Friday, May 31, 2024, Christa (Ittzes) Upton departed this world to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ face to face. She fought chronic illness valiantly for over 16 years, but now her suffering has been exchanged for the joy and happiness of eternity in heaven. She was 54.
She was preceded in death by her father, Nick Ittzes.
Christa is survived by her husband, Steve; her children, Nathan, Alyssa, and Sarah Upton, all of Edgemont, S.D.; her mother, Judy Ittzes of Hillsboro, Mo.; her sister, Cathy (and Steve) Miller of Hillsboro; her brother, Brian (and Angelica) Ittzes of Hillsboro; and aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews scattered around the world.
No public services will be held.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Hot Springs.