Gerald L. Wittenberg

1939 - 2025

GERALD L. WITTENBERG Jerry was born Nov. 25, 1939, in Kansas City Ks. He was the only child of Charles F. Wittenberg Jr. and Roberta (Grigsby) Wittenberg. He grew up in the Kansas City area and graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1957 and then Kansas City Kansas Junior College in 1959. After college, Jerry worked for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri and later in Lawrence, KS running an Offset Printing Press. In December of 1961, Jerry joined the United States Air Force, enlisting in the electronics field where He learned Morse Code. In the fall of 1962, He was assigned to a communications base in Peshawar, Pakistan spending 15 months there listening to the Russians as a Morse Code Intercept Operator. After his return back to the United States he was stationed at Forbes AFB in Topeka, Kansas. In 1964, while still in Topeka, he met Maxine Morgan, who was a Kansas City, Kansas, Bethany Hospital Nursing Student, completing a 3 month rotation also in Topeka. After Jerry's Honorable Discharge from the Air Force in 1965, he returned to Kansas City and worked for Cook Paint & Varnish Co. in the paint research department. A year later, He began working for Williams Brothers Pipe Line Co. in the lab as a Quality Control Specialist. Jerry & Maxine were married in June of 1967 and lived in Kansas City, Ks until he was transferred to Eldorado, Ks where they took up residence in 1972. He continued to work for Williams Pipeline for the rest of his career. Jerry was always active in his two sons' activities. He coached little league baseball and was a Cub Scout Master for Troop 222 for several years. His sons learned everything they needed to know about becoming an avid fisherman and hunters. For several years he volunteered as a guide for some of the celebrities but he mostly preferred to guide the youth hunters in the Governor's One Shot Turkey Hunt. Jerry and Maxine were active members of the two square dance clubs in Eldorado for over 25 years. After 35 years with Williams Pipeline, he retired in 2002. He then had more time to play golf and tend to his garden. He loved gardening and sharing vegetables with the neighbors! He loved his Irish Setters, showing them at dog shows shortly after getting married and raising many litters through the years. Eventually he shifted to Beagles and more litters of puppies. He "tolerated" Maxine's cats! Surviving members of the family include Maxine of the home, sons Chad (Beth) of El Dorado and Andrew (Shelley) of Ellinwood, Ks. Grandchildren, Cody of Winfield, Ks, Zach of Manhattan, Ks, Levi of Eldorado and McKenna Garman of Eldorado. Jerry was preceded by his parents, many aunts, uncles, cousins, special "fur Babies" and special friends. Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 14 from 5-7 pm at Carlson Colonial Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 15, at 1 pm at Carlson Colonial Funeral Home. Jerry will be laid to rest at Walnut Valley Memorial Park. Memorials to Kansas Humane Society and Phoenix Home Health & Hospice. Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of Jerry at www.carlsonkirbymorris.com