W. Wayne Wittenberger

W. Wayne Wittenberger of Evanston, age 88, died July 13, 2009 in Glenbrook Hospital. Wayne was born Nov. 5, 1920 in Carleton, NE to Joshua and Elizabeth Wittenberger, nee Glaun. Wayne grew up in Kansas, following high school, he applied and was accepted into the Naval Academy in Annapolis, after two years at the Naval Academy, it was discovered during a routine physical that Wayne had less than perfect eyesight, and the Navy dismissed him. Wayne came back to Kansas and enrolled at Kansas State where he later graduated with honors in mechanical engineering. Wayne continued his education at Yale University where he received his Masters. WWII entered the equation and Wayne volunteered and eventually served as an Officer aboard the destroyer, Benson. Following his discharge from the Navy, Wayne entered the business world starting as a young engineer at Petersen Oven Co. of Franklin Park, IL and developing machines that revolutionized the baking industry. Following his years of service at Petersen, Wayne moved to the Kitchens of Sara Lee located in Chicago. Wayne's main focus at Sara Lee was to supervise the engineering and construction of a new, five times larger bakery, eventually relocating to Deerfield, this facility was on the cutting edge of technology, being one of the first to run factory equipment with computers. Following the completion of the Sara Lee facility Wayne joined the Fluor Corporation, an international engineering and construction firm. Wayne's projects at Fluor included work on nuclear and coal-fired plants, chemical plants, and refineries. Following his retirement from Fluor, Wayne rejoined Sara Lee for three more years at the Deerfield plant. Wayne was Life Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and had served as past chairman of the Chicago section of the group. In all, Wayne held 13 U.S Patents, and "reinvented factories" worldwide. Wayne was the beloved husband of the late Mary, his wife of 41 years. Funeral Services were held on July 16, Memorial Park Mausoleum, Skokie. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, 1140 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607 would be appreciated. Info: www.DonnellanFuneral.com or 847-675-1990.