Shirley M. Witte

Shirley Marie (Schaper) Witte, 80, of Decatur, Indiana passed away November 16, 2019.  She was born on March 8, 1939, in Woodburn, Indiana to the late Adolph and Wilma (Chester) Schaper. She grew up in Woodburn, IN. Shirley met Alvin “Ollie” Witte at the Hayloft in Hoagland, IN while square dancing with friends. They were united in marriage on May 29, 1960, in Zion Lutheran Church, Bull Rapids in Woodburn, IN, after marriage they lived north of Decatur. Alvin preceded her in death on May 3, 2013.

Shirley worked at Farmer Mutual Insurance until she became a mother, then she stayed home to take care of her family and helped on the family farm. When Alvin retired Shirley started working part-time at Gerber’s deli on Winchester road in Decatur and at the Indiana car auction in Fort Wayne. She retired in 2005.

Shirley was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Friedheim. She was a member of the Morning Glories at Friedheim, the LWML, and assisted with the church funerals. She was also a member of the Sunny Circle Home Ec club for 25 years.

She loved spending time with her family and friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Wava (Christopher) Lichtle of Decatur, IN; a son, Mark (Dian) Witte of Decatur, IN; two sisters; Nona Bueck of Fort Wayne, IN, Wanda (Dewight) Runyon of Tekonsha, MI; brother-in-law Gerhard Witte of Decatur, IN; 3 sisters-in-law Dorothy (Raymond) Schaper of Woodburn, IN, Laura (Norbert) Merkle of Ohio City, OH, Lavera (Duane) Linker of New Haven, IN; seven grandchildren; Marc (Angie) Lichtle, Zachary (Stacy) Lichtle, Alex (Ashley) Lichtle, Emma (Scott) Meyer, Ethan Lichtle, Jared and Heath Witte; seven great-grandchildren; Lucy, Hannah, Mae, Wyatt, Gabriel, Violet and baby Lichtle; many nieces, nephews and her grandchildren’s friends that called her “Granny”.

She was preceded in death by a nephew Brent Runyon, sister-in-law June Witte, 2 brothers-in-law; Clarence Witte and Wilhelm “Sammy” Witte; 2 sisters-in-law and their spouses, Marie (Wilbert) Bradtmueller, Lorena (Marvin) Hockemeyer.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, November 24, 2019, at Zion Friedheim Church with Pastor Daniel Dahling officiating. Burial will follow the service at Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, Friedheim.

Friends will be received from 2-7 p.m. Saturday, November 23, 2019, in the Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home – Decatur and an hour and a half prior to the service Sunday at the Zion Friedheim Church.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS AND OTHER REMEMBERANCES PLEASE GIVE TO Zion Lutheran Church, Friedheim or Visiting Nurse.

The family wishes to thank the Fort Wayne Medical Hematology and Oncology Staff, Lutheran Outpatient Staff and the Visiting Nurse Staff for their loving care of Shirley.