- Date Of Birth: September 4, 1928
- Date Of Death: May 20, 2014
- State: Nebraska
John Sterling Wittwer, 85, of Humboldt, Nebraska was born on September 4, 1928 in rural Humboldt, Nebraska to David E. and Isabel (Hildebrand) Wittwer. He was a raised on a farm south of Humboldt and attended country school. Sterling later graduated from Humboldt High School with the class of 1946.
On April 21, 1951, Sterling was united in marriage to Lois Jane Richardson and to this union three daughters, Nancy, Donna, and Jo Anne were born. In August of 1951, Sterling was drafted in the U.S. Army and served his country during the Korean Conflict where he was awarded two Purple Hearts and The Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Achievement. When he returned, he and his brother Ron farmed south of Humboldt and worked in soil conservation building terraces, waterways and dams. From there they formed Wittwer Bros., Inc., constructing the dirt base for many roads in southeast Nebraska and Kansas and which still provide a smooth ride today. In 1966, Sterling purchased the John Deere franchise in Humboldt. He set up business as Wittwer Implement and became the local John Deere dealer until he retired in 1990.
Sterling was always involved in community service. He was on the Humboldt City Council for several years where he served on the Planning Commission during the building of the Humboldt Community Memorial Hospital in 1967 and Colonial Acres Nursing Home in 1969. Sterling also served on the Housing Board during the expansion of the units at Parkview Heights. He was instrumental in raising funds and development for the construction of Kirkman’s Lakeview Golf Course. Sterling and friends moved a bridge 35 miles in 1994 with engineering help from Lester Penkava; then set in place in 1996.
Sterling was a member of the Four-Mile Congregational Church and a Permanent Member of the American Legion Post #39 in DuBois. He was also a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter #43 in Falls City and a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Sterling and Lois felt it was important to balance hard work and community service with fun. And they did have fun! Sterling and Lois took many trips touring the U.S.A. with always a stop in Vegas. In 2001, they purchased a winter home in Green Valley, Arizona and in 2012, they moved into the Brighton Gardens Assisted Living in Omaha, Nebraska.
Sterling passed away on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska having reached the age of eighty-five years, eight months, and sixteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother Jessie Wittwer, a sister Elma Ruth Yaussi, a brother Ronald L. Wittwer, an infant brother and sister, and son-in-law Jack Sanders.
Sterling is survived by his wife Lois Wittwer of Omaha, NE; daughters: Nancy Wittwer of Omaha, NE; Donna Fankhauser and her husband Mike of Mountain View, AR; Jo Anne Wittwer of Nebraska City, NE; 4 grandchildren: James Ough of Steamboat Springs, CO; Michael Ough of Pinebluff, NC; Kyle Fankhauser of Dallas, TX; Cory Fankhauser and wife Alexandria of Plano, TX; 2 great-grandchildren: Ava and Remington Fankhauser; and two step great-grandchildren: Taylor Pendleton and Destiney Torres; and many other nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends
