Witt, Donald Reinhold 1923-2007

WITT, UTESCH, MOELLER, LINDQUIST, SOHL

Posted By: Janet Schuldt (email)
Date: 11/11/2009 at 18:14:35

LeMars Sentinel, Le Mars, Plymouth, Iowa, USA

Donald R. Witt
Thursday, February 8, 2007

Donald Reinhold Witt, 83, of Bartlesville, Okla., died at 5:55 a.m. Monday, Jan. 22, 2007 at the Jane Phillips Medical Center.

Mr. Witt was born April 15, 1923, at Le Mars, the son of Julius Reinhold Witt and Anna Marie (Moeller) Witt. He grew up and received his education at Le Mars and graduated from high school in 1941. He served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theatre during World War I I until 1945 when he received his honorable discharge. He attended Westmar College in Le Mars and graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1950. He attended the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, S.D., where he received his master's degree in chemistry in May, 1951.

Donald and Joyce Arlene Utesch were married on June 3, 1950 at St. John Lutheran Church in Le Mars. They moved to Bartlesville, Okla., to establish their home in September 1951. Mr. Witt was employed with Phillips Petroleum Company as a research chemist until his retirement in 1985. He was the holder of numerous United States and European patents for various chemical processes and was also a published technical writer.

Following retirement Donald and Joyce continued to live in Bartlesville. Joyce preceded him in death on June 7, 1999.

Mr. Witt was a longtime member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church. He had also been active as the assistant scout master for Boy Scout Troop #20 for a number of years and a member of the Order of the Arrow. He was involved in creating Braille Bibles with the Lutheran Braille Workers. An active community volunteer, he worked with Bartlesville Literacy Council tutoring for a number of years as well as helping with English as a Second Language. He volunteered in assisting people with tax preparation. Mr. Witt was also a master woodworker

Survivors include three sons, David Witt of Tulsa, Okla.,, Stephen Witt and his wife, Barbara of Owasso, Okla., Jeffrey Witt of Bartlesville; one daughter, Linda Sohl of Claremore, Okla.; two brothers, Leonard Witt of Peosta, Iowa and Wallace Witt of Vancouver, Wash.; one sister, Mildred Lindquist, Vancouver, Wash.; four grandchildren, Kendal Marie Sohl, Ryan Michael Sohl, Janelle Lissa Witt and Alexander Stephen Witt, sisters-in-law, Donna Whitaker of Frisco, Texas, and Lois Johnson, Le Mars and a brother-in-law Edward Utesch of Le Mars.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Carter officiating. Interment was at the Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of the Stumpff Funeral Home and Crematory.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established at the Bartlesville Literacy Council, 600 S. Johnston Ave., or to the American Cancer Society, Attn. Kathy Leeper, P.O. Box 1094, both in Bartlesville, Okla. 74005.