Willard Edwin Dittmer
November 23, 1924 — May 30, 2019
Willard Dittmer passed away peacefully on May 30, 2019 at the age of 94 years. Willard was born November 23, 1924 southeast of Minden, Iowa. He was the third son of John and Ferne (Brown) Dittmer.
Willard (Goose) and his brothers attended Country School Silver Dell #6 for eight years and then graduated from Shelby High School in 1942.
Willard followed a long tradition of family farming. He raised cattle, chickens, hogs, Brown Swiss purebred cows, grew corn, alfalfa and oats. Willard stayed loyal to the Century family farm where he was born and lived his whole life. He was active with its operation until a month prior to his death. He loved farm life and the smell of freshly tilled soil. He rarely ventured away from his home; and when he did, never went very far or for very long.
Willard had great love for his family. He was an avid letter writer and kept in regular contact with his nephews and nieces along with other Dittmer and Brown relatives in Nebraska. He enjoyed both receiving and sending correspondence. You could always identify a letter from Willard by the appearance of his careful and beautiful handwriting. He had a wonderful and stealthy way of giving the reader his opinion. You knew when he found fault in anything you had done or said that didn’t quite meet Dittmer standards as defined by himself.
Willard was well aware of what was going on around him in the world. He read the Omaha World Herald, Council Bluffs Nonpareil and many other local newspapers cover to cover. You could always find pictures from the Iowan magazine on the walls above the kitchen table or in the more prominent and dignified spot… on the refrigerator! Willard could hold his own in whatever topic you wanted to discuss, of course, always through his wonderful and classic Dittmer lens. He was quite a unique “Willard” and we will all love him and remember him forever.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Lawrence and Gayle. The three brothers passed this life in chronological order and all in the month May. Willard is survived by his seven nephews, nieces and their families.
David (Leora) Dittmer of Minden, Iowa; Joani (Myron) Halverson of Sioux City, Iowa; Tim (Tracy) Dittmer of Neosho, Missouri; Ann (Richard) Wymore of St. Louis, Missouri; Ted (Priscilla) Dittmer of Whitewater, Colorado; Terry (Neil) Wernsman of Fleming, Colorado; and Tammy (Joel) Jess of Pekin, Illinois; along with their children, and other relatives.
The family of Willard Dittmer has requested memorials directed to:
Carstens 1880 Memorial Farmstead - 32409 380th St, Shelby, IA 51570.
Willard (Goose) and his brothers attended Country School Silver Dell #6 for eight years and then graduated from Shelby High School in 1942.
Willard followed a long tradition of family farming. He raised cattle, chickens, hogs, Brown Swiss purebred cows, grew corn, alfalfa and oats. Willard stayed loyal to the Century family farm where he was born and lived his whole life. He was active with its operation until a month prior to his death. He loved farm life and the smell of freshly tilled soil. He rarely ventured away from his home; and when he did, never went very far or for very long.
Willard had great love for his family. He was an avid letter writer and kept in regular contact with his nephews and nieces along with other Dittmer and Brown relatives in Nebraska. He enjoyed both receiving and sending correspondence. You could always identify a letter from Willard by the appearance of his careful and beautiful handwriting. He had a wonderful and stealthy way of giving the reader his opinion. You knew when he found fault in anything you had done or said that didn’t quite meet Dittmer standards as defined by himself.
Willard was well aware of what was going on around him in the world. He read the Omaha World Herald, Council Bluffs Nonpareil and many other local newspapers cover to cover. You could always find pictures from the Iowan magazine on the walls above the kitchen table or in the more prominent and dignified spot… on the refrigerator! Willard could hold his own in whatever topic you wanted to discuss, of course, always through his wonderful and classic Dittmer lens. He was quite a unique “Willard” and we will all love him and remember him forever.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Lawrence and Gayle. The three brothers passed this life in chronological order and all in the month May. Willard is survived by his seven nephews, nieces and their families.
David (Leora) Dittmer of Minden, Iowa; Joani (Myron) Halverson of Sioux City, Iowa; Tim (Tracy) Dittmer of Neosho, Missouri; Ann (Richard) Wymore of St. Louis, Missouri; Ted (Priscilla) Dittmer of Whitewater, Colorado; Terry (Neil) Wernsman of Fleming, Colorado; and Tammy (Joel) Jess of Pekin, Illinois; along with their children, and other relatives.
The family of Willard Dittmer has requested memorials directed to:
Carstens 1880 Memorial Farmstead - 32409 380th St, Shelby, IA 51570.
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