William “Bill” M. Wittig

BYRON – William “Bill” M. Wittig 94, (June 29, 1925 – July 23, 2019). Pastor Bill’s favorite Bible verse was I Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Pastor Wittig was born in Ladysmith, Wisconsin and grew up outside Carthage, Ill. A major impact on Bill’s life was his father and his values, since his father was also a Lutheran minister.

While attending college he carved tombstones in Carthage, Illinois. Bill graduated from Carthage in 1945 with a B.A. degree. He then attended Wartburg seminary and graduated in 1949 with a MDiv and was ordained in June of that year.

Bill was married to Isabelle F. Nelson, August of 1949, and began serving his first congregations, Trinity Lutheran in Chenoa and Trinity Lutheran in Fairbury, Illinois. During the following years he would serve the American Lutheran Church in Rantoul, Illinois; St. John’s Lutheran in Peoria (Bartonville); Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Rockford, IL; St. Matthew in Lima, Ohio; St. James Lutheran in Payne and St. John Lutheran Paulding (Briceton), Ohio.

After retiring from being full time pastor of a church, he did pulpit supply in California. This allowed Bill and Isabelle the opportunity to spend more time with the grandchildren and also to travel more extensively. Bill and Isabelle were excited about meeting persons of different races, cultures and religions. They travelled to Israel, particularly Bethlehem twice, Germany, to see the Oberammergau Passion

Article source: https://oglecountylife.com/article/william-bill-m-wittig