Douglas Jeffrey Wittwer, 66, of Salem, Neb., passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at his home.

Doug was born on April 17, 1956, to Roy and Edna (Stastny) Wittwer. He grew up in the Salem and Dawson, Neb., areas and attended Honey Creek School through the eighth grade. Then, he attended Dawson High School and graduated in 1974.

On June 18, 1977, Doug married Tamra (Grimm) Wittwer in Sabetha, and last year they celebrated 45 wonderful years together. Doug and Tamra were blessed with two sons, Sandon and Grayson.

Doug owned and operated his own welding and repair business in rural Dawson. He took great pride in his welding abilities and made many friends through his business. Throughout his lifetime, Doug worked other jobs, which usually involved farming and trucking. Doug worked his entire life in and around the Salem and Sabetha areas until his retirement in 2021.

In his spare time, Doug enjoyed spending time with his family and his horses. He loved roping and attending rodeos, especially if he could talk his grandsons into attending the rodeos with him. Doug’s greatest joy was spending time with his grandsons and attending all their school activities and sporting events.

Doug was preceded in death by his grandsons, Sladyn and Landry Wittwer; and his father-in-law, Fred Feek on Jan. 21, 2022.

Doug is survived by his wife, Tamra, of the home; his two sons, Sandon (Lindsay) Wittwer of Sabetha and Grayson Wittwer of Shawnee, Okla.; his four grandsons, Tristan, Aidan, Camden and Karson Wittwer; his parents, Roy and Edna Wittwer of Sabetha; his brother, Dan (Janet) Wittwer of Dawson, Neb.; his sister, Brenda (Gary) Huettner of Dawson, Neb.; his mother-in-law, Karen Feek of Sabetha; his four sisters-in-law and their husbands, Terri (Richard) Terrel, Lynda (Randy) Hoffman, Rayona “Ruth” (Paul) Shaver and Audra (Lee) Livengood, all of Sabetha; and his numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at the Crossroads Wesleyan Church in Sabetha. Prior to the funeral service, a visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the church. The interment will be made in the Albany Cemetery north of Sabetha. Memorial contributions are suggested to a charity yet to be designated by the family, sent in care of Popkess Mortuary, 823 Virginia, Sabetha, Kansas 66534.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.popkessmortuaries.com.

The Sabetha Herald 2/8/2023