Charles Witte
W. Charles Witte, 74, of Bloomington, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, volunteer & civic leader died peacefully at 10:21 a.m. on April 10 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4-8 p.m. at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, 1115 East Washington Street, Bloomington. His funeral will be held on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 410 North Prairie Street, Bloomington, with pastor Rev. Dr. David Bianchin. Military rites accorded by the Bloomington-Normal American Legion Honor Guard. Private entombment will be at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery Mausoleum, Bloomington at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in honor of W. Charles Witte to Illinois State University Foundation and Advocate BroMenn Foundation.
Chuck Witte was born on Sep.21, 1941, in Chicago, son of Dr. William B. and Caroline Hess Witte. He married Donna Vera Skrinskus, his college sweetheart, 10 days after returning from his Vietnam service on Oct. 12, 1968. She survives.
Also surviving are two daughters, Drs. Alison Jane (Keith Anthony) Gildehaus of Eureka, Mo. and Elizabeth Ann (Joseph Donald) Edmondson of Kansas City, Mo., four grandchildren, Katelyn Reese and Emerson Lane Gildehaus and William David and John Charles Edmondson. Others surviving are nephews Christopher (Beckie) Witte of Farmer City and Adam (Candice Smith) Witte of Iowa City, nieces Sally Berens (Ryan Postma) and their children, Dries & Silas of Ada, Michigan, Nelltj (Brian) Prosise of Napa, California and Abra Berens (Erik Hall) of Chicago. Also surviving is a brother-in-law, Dr. Lee Berens of Hamilton, Miss.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Dr. Craig H. Witte and his sister Jo Karyl Berens.
Chuck graduated from Bloomington High School in 1959. He was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1966, graduated from U.S. Army Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia in 1967 and served as an Intelligence Officer in Vietnam (1967-68) where he had the pleasure of teaching English to Vietnamese school teachers, taught Interrogation at U.S. Army Intelligence School, Fort Holabird, Maryland (1968-69). He graduated from Illinois State University in 1971 (President, Student Body 1970-71) and initiated the Student Legal Services Program. He received his Juris Doctorate from University of Baltimore School of Law in 1975, a 1980 graduate of the National Judicial College and 1982 graduate of the National College of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
Chuck returned to Bloomington and practiced law with the firm of Pratt, Larkin, Witte & Sternberg, PC from 1975 until he was appointed Associate Circuit Judge in December, 1978. He was elected McLean County Resident Circuit Judge in November of 1988, retained as a Circuit Judge both 1994 & 2000 and retired from the bench in December of 2001. It was his distinct honor to serve as a trial judge endeavoring to improve the quality of life in our county and state.
The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Judge Witte to chair the statewide Judicial Education Conference for 1986-88 and he served as faculty member for numerous Judicial Conference and Illinois State Bar Association Education Programs. He was a member of the American, Illinois and McLean County Bar and Illinois Trial Lawyer Associations. He was a founding member and President (2000-01) of the Robert C. Underwood Inn of Court.
In 1980 he developed and for 20 years taught a Criminal Justice Education Program for over 1,800 sixth grade students visiting his courtroom each year. This program was particularly close to his heart. This presentation has been used as a model by other judicial circuits.
Chuck was an active Bloomington Kiwanis Club member for 38 years (President 1985-86, George F. Hixon Award 1998). He was honored to serve 9 years as a member of the BroMenn Healthcare Board of Directors (Chairman, 2000-03) and 6 years on the Bloomington Country Club Board of Directors. He served 19 years on the Illinois State University Foundation Board (Vice-Chair, 1982-88) and 20 years on the ISU Alumni Association Board (President, 1975-77). He was awarded the E. Burton Mercier Alumni Service Award in 1998 and inducted into the BHS Hall of Fame 2007. He served on the Bloomington Fire and Police Commission (2008-15) and was also board member of the Illinois Wesleyan Associates.
Chuck has been a member of Second Presbyterian Church for over 50 years, serving as an usher, trustee, elder, and senior high camp counselor. He served as a board member of Immanuel Bible Foundation for over 20 years (President, 2005-11). He was a faithful servant in every aspect of the word.
He was an avid cyclist and enjoyed countless rides and with friends, including the Youstabees. He looked forward to meeting every week with his Wednesday morning breakfast group. He loved living in and taking care of Spring Ridge. But his most treasured moments were spent with his grandchildren who adored their “Happy”.
Please view the obituary and share your condolences and memories online at www.calvertmemorial.com.
