Hildred Wittman, age 95, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Monday, August 3, 2020, at the Anderson County Hospital in Garnett.
She was born on April 19, 1925, in Ottawa, Kansas, the fourth child of Andy and Adelaide (Lickteig) Bowman. She had attended St. John the Baptist Catholic School, Iola Public Schools and attended the Ursuline Academy High School in Paola, Kansas. Hildred then graduated from Greeley High School in 1943.
In September 1945, Hildred went on a blind date to the Topeka Fair with Henry Wittman. They immediately fell in love and were engaged in February 1946. They were married June 4, 1946, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Greeley, Kansas. Henry and Hildred were blessed with five children, Henry Merle, Anita Kay, Charles Leo, Edwin John and Robert Joseph.
Hildred’s family always loved music. Her Dad played the violin and her mother the piano. They often entertained family and friends at dances and reunions. She learned to play the violin from her Dad and was always his little helper. Her nickname from him was “Snooks”. She would hand him beer bottles when he was making home brew or wine bottles when he was making wine. Her dad was always fun and ornery just like her brother Andy. She also helped her mother sew, cook, grow garden, and she learned to can food. Hildred also liked to crochet, making all five of her children afghans.
In 1962, she went to work at Warner Manufacturing sewing factory. She worked there for 26 years and made many good friends.
She was a member of the Holy Angels Catholic Church, the Holy Angels Altar Society, where she served several terms as President. She also served as a Eucharist Minister for many years. She was a member of the V.F.W. Women’s Auxiliary at Garnett. She was also a member of the J.J.J. card club in her neighborhood. It stands for “Jumping Judy Janes”, because they lived in the Judy School area.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Andy and Adelaide Bowman; her husband of 70 years, Henry Wittman; two brothers, Merle and Andy Bowman; four sisters, Caroline, Sister Adelaide, Theresa; and baby sister Alice.
Hildred is survived by her children, Merle Wittman and wife Kay of Lawrence, Kansas, Chuck Wittman and wife Kathy of Garnett, Kansas, Ed Wittman and wife Kim of Lawrence, Kansas, Robert Wittman and wife Connie of Garnett, Anita Peine and husband Eugene of Garnett; fourteen grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter; one sister, Rose Guilfoyle of Skiatook, Oklahoma.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, August 7, 2020, at Holy Angels Catholic Church, Garnett. Burial will follow in the Holy Angels Cemetery, Garnett. A rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m., on Thursday evening at the church, with visitation to follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Rose School and left in care of the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent to the family at
www.feuerbornfuneral.com
Feuerborn Family Funeral Service is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Mass for Hildred will be available for livestreaming via this link:
https://zoom.us/j/7166693102?pwd=Z2h2djlkM29rUGM1QWVOMjZidXdrUT09
Time: 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada) on Friday, August 7, 2020
Meeting ID: 716 669 3102
Passcode: WITTMAN
The service will also be recorded and available for viewing on this page after Friday, August 7, 2020.