David A. Witte

David Albert Witte, born in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, July 9, 1937, fell asleep in Christ, at his home in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on November 18, 2015, after cancer struggles which began in 2004. He was baptized into God’s family on August 29, 1937, and confirmed in the Christian faith on March 18, 1951, both at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran in Fort Atkinson. God blessed David with ready smile and zeal for sharing the Gospel. He graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin, on June 4,1963. Until 1968, he served Immanuel Ev. Lutheran in Globe (rural Neillsville), Wisconsin, along with St. John Ev. Lutheran of Hay Creek and St. John Ev. Lutheran of Christie. He shepherded St. Paul’s Lutheran in East Troy, Wisconsin, from 1968-1985, during which time he survived an initial bout with cancer. From 1986-1995 he served Abiding Peace Ev. Lutheran of Streamwood, Illinois, the church he planted. In 1995, it merged with St. Andrew’s in Elgin, Illinois. David ministered to them until retiring in 2006. From 2008-2014, he assisted at Bethlehem Ev. Lutheran Church, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, preaching once a month and visiting homebound members. In retirement, he also taught a Friday morning Bible class at Faith Ev. Lutheran Church in Fond du Lac, until just three weeks before his death. Besides his parish ministry, David served the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod as chairman of the Southeastern Wisconsin District Evangelism Committee from 1969 to 1975. In 1972, he was also appointed to serve on the synod Evangelism Committee, which he did for twenty-nine years. In 2002, he was elected as the Pastoral Advisor for the national Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society, having also served as the Pastoral Advisor for the Chicago Area Circuit of LWMS for four years. David was privileged to be asked to record himself reading the entire Bible for the WELS “Through My Bible” website at http://wels.net/serving-you/bible/. David loved to sing, often had a garden, and especially liked woodworking.David is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dorothy, and their children: Debra Spriggs (husband Martin) of Slinger, Wisconsin, Daniel (wife Deborah) of Nicollet, Minnesota, and Dale (wife Renee) of Fond du Lac. His grandchildren are: Alycia Cameron (husband Thomas, son Murray) of Bloomington, Indiana, Aaron Spriggs (wife Cheryl) of Austin, Texas, and Jana Spriggs of West Bend, Deanna and Danae Witte, attending college in Wheaton, Illinois, David Witte, at school in Sarasota, Florida, Daria, Donovan, and Drew Witte of Nicollet, Minnesota, Jonathan Witte, at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota, and Hannah, of Fond du Lac. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Edna Witte, his brother, Harold Witte, and his granddaughter, Dominique Witte. VISITATION: The visitation will be at Faith Ev. Lutheran Church, 55 Prairie Road, Fond du Lac, on Monday, November. 23, 2015, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, from 9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. FUNERAL SERVICE: The funeral service will be at Faith Ev. Lutheran Church on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, at 11 a.m. Memorials may be directed to Faith Lutheran Church, Winnebago Lutheran Academy Music Department, WELS Home Missions or the American Cancer Society. Thank you to the staff of the Agnesian Cancer Center of Fond du Lac: Dr. Joel Lundberg, Dr. Filip Troicki, Dr. Douglas Fownes; and to Dr. Blase Polite of the University of Chicago Hospital for their continued care of David during his cancer treatments.

David A. Witte

July 9, 1937 - November 24, 2015