John Franklin Wittke

John F. Wittke, retired businessman, devoted family man and sparkling wit, died on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at home surrounded by his loving family. John was born to Walter and Helen (Jennings) Wittke on July 14, 1936. He spent an adventurous childhood in Madison, Wisconsin and then moved to the east side of Milwaukee. He graduated from St. John’s Cathedral High School and was always grateful for the wonderful education he received from the Dominican nuns. John went on to earn a Bachelor Degree of Business Administration from University of Wisconsin-Madison. It was on Langdon Street that his lifelong romance with Donna Reif Wittke began, after she threw bottle caps at his window to attract his attention. John and Donna welcomed three daughters and raised them in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Family trips were an annual highlight: they were action-packed with ambitious itineraries and lofty aims. John could stand and ponder a statue, painting or view longer than most. He was always learning, always growing, and encouraged his children and grandchildren to do the same. John had a successful career in the foundry industry. He was respected by colleagues, loved by friends and regarded by people who knew him as a person of integrity. Since his retirement, he invested even more time caring for and supporting his family. He could switch gears between obsessing about the stock market, offering quiet companionship and encouragement to aging family members, and playing with grandchildren. He had a remarkable depth and emotional range that wasn’t on display but rather was lived and breathed through his actions. John is survived by his wife of 56 years, Donna (Reif) Wittke, daughters Cheryl (Dave Merritt), Laura and Beth; grandchildren Eliza Merritt, Christopher (Nicky) Wunsch, Jamie McDonough, Trevor (Asella) Wittke and Tao Stalley; great grandsons Cyrus, Sam and Emile; brother Richard (Gloria) and sister Paula (Todd Anderson); brothers-in-law Al Reif and Bob Reif (Rita) and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and stepmother Iona Wittke, in-laws John and Cunera (Reif) Diedrich and sister-in-law Germane Reif. John’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, September 10th, 2016 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 2121 Rowley Avenue, Madison, WI 53726. Visitation will begin at 10 AM with Eulogies at 10:45 AM and Mass at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Safe Communities, PO Box 6652, Madison, WI 53716