Bill Carl Witt

Bill C. Witt, 87, of McCook, NE passed away Thursday, October 22, at the McCook Community Hospital. He was born on September 7, 1929, in Omaha, NE. In 1932, Bill and his twin brother, Don, were living in the Hattie Monroe Children's Home in Omaha when Omer and Marcella Witt of Elsie, NE adopted the boys. Bill lived in Elsie until his graduation from Elsie High School in 1947. After graduation, he moved to McCook and attended McCook College for one year. In McCook, Bill met his future wife, Elaine M. (Lunbery), at Paul's Rexall Drug store. On a dare, Bill asked Elaine out for a date; they were married in Wauneta on March 20, 1949. Sons Dick (1950), Tom (1952) and Harry (1954) were born to the couple. Bill worked at a variety of jobs and the family lived in several places, including McCook, Grant, Mt. Grove, MO, Holdrege and Loomis. In 1959, Bill got his teaching certificate and he and Elaine began his teaching career at a country school west of Imperial. Over the next 21 years, he taught and coached at Lamar, Cambridge, Red Willow and the University of Nebraska School of Technical Agriculture at Curtis. In retirement he sold insurance and cemetery monuments. He was reunited with his biological sister Becky Berkenbosch of California after 55 years of separation. Bill was baptized as a teenager at the Elsie Church of Christ and was a loyal member of the church for his entire life, helping to plant churches, lead singing and teach classes as long as his health allowed. He played semi-pro baseball as a young man and was his boys' biggest sports fan. Bill lost his hearing at age 7 but loved music and sang in choirs and barbershop groups wherever he lived. He was a former Rotarian, Nebraska Youth Camp board member and church deacon. Bill restored five old cars and trucks over a 50 year span. He was also an early technophile and was never seen without an electronic gadget in his hands. Bill was predeceased by his parents; brother, Don Witt; sister, Becky Berkenbosch; and grandson Brett Witt. He is survived by his wife, Elaine of McCook, sons Dick (Paula) of Hastings, Tom (Anna) of Widefield, CO and Harry of Oregon City, OR. Grandchildren: Scott (Anita) Witt, Menlo Park, CA, Christina (Eric) Towery, Hastings, NE, Matt (Hope) Witt, Macau, China; Andy Witt, Colorado Springs, CO, Claire Witt, Denver, CO, Hollis Witt, Widefield, CO; Riley Witt and Tyler Witt, Oregon City, OR, Hannah (Stew) Allen, Oregon City, OR and PFC Conner Witt, Ft. Drum, Watertown, NY. Great-grandchildren: Piper Roth, Charlie Towery, Miles Towery and Remington Towery of Hastings, NE; Amari Witt, Saela Witt and Kyan Witt of Menlo Park, CA. And a host of friends, former students and people who loved to argue with him. Memorial Service will be at McCook Church of Christ, 2:00 PM, Thursday, October 27, 2016. Interment: Private ceremony at Elsie Cemetery at later date. Memorials should be sent to McCook Church of Christ. Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel of McCook is in charge of the arrangements. Memorial Service

Thursday, October 27, 2016 2:00 PM