Richard "Dick" Wittman, 86, of Spokane, WA and formerly of Uniontown, WA passed away Dec. 27, 2014 at the Spokane Veterans Home.
Our much loved Step-Father, Grandpa, Opa, Uncle and Friend will be dearly missed. Dick was born on April 13, 1928 to Joseph and Mary Tuschoff Wittman on the family farm just south of Uniontown. He grew up on the farm with his nine siblings: Irene, Bernadette, Alice, Marie Hazel, Stella, Betty, Ed and Robert. All preceded him in death except for his sister Betty.
He loved growing up on the family farm. He was his dad's helper as they drove a team of horses in the field. Dick enjoyed his gift of a beautiful tenor voice and will be remembered for singing at holidays, weddings and funerals at St. Boniface Church. Most of all he will be remembered for singing "O Holy Night" every Christmas at midnight mass. Dick loved his church and enjoyed making sure the time was changed at Daylight Savings Time and back again at Standard Time on the large clock on the front of St. Boniface Church, which was donated by the Wittman Family. This was done by climbing up into the steeples and then up a small stairway and squeezing into an opening to reach the controls of the clock. He loved to tell how he would take an unsuspecting friend on the climb up with him.
Dick was a Korean War Veteran serving in Germany at Vilseck, an occupied and unstable border region since the end of WW11. He was in the Artillery Division-Firing the 8-inch Howitzer. He enjoyed reminiscing about his two years in Germany where he had many duties. Favorite memories were singing Christmas Carols on Christmas Eve while on guard duty, visiting the "Zugspitze", enjoying Oktoberfest, and photographing many beautiful sites.
In 1960, he married the love of his life and best friend, Ella Dennler Dahmen. They were married for 50 years. Dick and Ella owned and operated the Community Market in Uniontown for 45 years. They enjoyed the grocery business and the Uniontown Community. For many years they boated and water-skied on Lake Chatcolet and Lake Coeur d'Alene with friends and family. After retirement, the two of them golfed and traveled in the states and in Europe. They were owners of several Arabian Show Horses with son Doug Dahmen and went to Regional and National Arabian Horse Shows where they met and became friends with many other horse owners. Sadly, Dick lost his wife and best friend at Christmastime in 2010.
Dick is survived by his four step-children, Ron Dahmen of Coco Beach FL, Doug Dahmen of Los Alamos, CA, and Margaret Dahmen-Burns (Mike), of Spokane. Step-daughter Donna Dahmen Druffel (Phil) and Granddaughter Karen Druffel preceded him in death. Dick will be greatly missed by his 12 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.
Dick will be remembered for his courage, suffering from Parkinson's disease for over 20 years. He has been described as a man possessing a great deal of grit and charm. For the past 2 ½ years Dick resided at the Spokane Veteran's Home where he was lovingly cared for by the amazing staff who affectionately referred to him as "Double T". Dick enjoyed watching the aides and nurses go about their work and delighted in telling stories and jokes. Our family is forever grateful to everyone at the Spokane Veteran's Home.
Dick was a lifelong member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus.
Funeral Mass will be at St. Boniface Church in Uniontown WA on Saturday, January 10 at 11:00 a.m. with burial to follow at the St. Boniface Cemetery. Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman, WA is caring for the family.
It was Dick's wishes that any donations be made to St. Boniface Church or the Spokane Veteran's Home, 222 E 5th St., Spokane, WA 99202-0538.