Rev. Marvin L. Witte

ROCHESTER -Rev. Marvin L. Witte, 93, died on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. Marvin was born in Holmen, WI on September 5, 1920 to Gustav and Nellie (Staff) Witte. Marvin married Ardis Nelson on November 26, 1948 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in NE Minneapolis.He became an ordained Lutheran Minister on September 30, 1945.Marvin served as a pastor from 1945-50 in Chatfield, MN, 1950-57 in Adams, MN, 1957-69 in Callender, IA, 1969-77 in Detroit Lakes, MN, 1977-96 in Moorhead, MN.After retirement, he continued to serve as a Protestant Chaplain at Riverview Place in Fargo, ND.Marvin and Ardis have lived the past 14 years at Shorewood Place in Rochester where he took an active role in the social life of the community.He enjoyed listening to his wife Ardis play the piano, gardening, writing, classical music, cooking, and reading.Marvin especially enjoyed spending time with his family and serving families through his ministry. Marvin is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ardis; four children, John (Karen) Witte, of Whitehall, WI, James (Sandi) Witte, of Callender, IA,Kristy (Robert) Giere, of Rochester, and Kathy (Scott) Duffus, of Owatonna, MN; seven grandchildren, Rachel (Tim) Ritland, of Stanhope, IA, Jacob (Ashley) Witte, of Ames, IA, Erikka Giere, of Rochester, Alysson (Joel) Pehoski, of Minneapolis, Ben Duffus, of Potsdam, Germany, Linnea Duffus, of Owatonna, MN, and Kaia Duffus, of Chengdu, China; one great grandson, Charles James Witte, of Ames, IA; two siblings, Ruth Wojcik, of Wilmington, NC, Eunice Van Loon, of Biloxi, MS; and many nieces and nephews. Marvin is preceded in death by his parents; grandchild, Andrea Witte; and three siblings, Kenneth Witte, Harrison Witte, Sherman Witte. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, August 8, 2014 at Zumbro Lutheran Church, 624 3rd Ave. SW, with Rev. Vern Christopherson officiating.Visitation will be an hour prior to the service at church. Memorials can be directed to Zumbro Lutheran Music Dept. or ELCA Global Missions.