Herman "Dick" Richard Witzig

Retired Colonel Richard (Dick) Witzig, a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, passed away Monday, July 31, 2023 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He lived a life of leadership that expanded beyond his family into the community, throughout the country and across the globe.

The son of Ethel and Herman Witzig, Dick was born on February 8, 1933 in La Salle, Illinois. He graduated from Woodruff High School and attended the University of Illinois pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. It is in Peoria, Illinois that Dick met his first wife, Sherrill A. Witzig (Jeneson). He was a football player, and she was a cheerleader. They married on February 18, 1955 and were together fifty-eight years.

At the age of twenty, Dick enlisted in the United States Air Force on December 30, 1953 as an aviation cadet. He served his country from 1955 until his retirement in 1980. Through his gifts of leadership and commitment to serving the Air Force, he attained the rank of Colonel. Throughout his career he spent time at Travis Air Force Base, Beale Air Force Base, Los Angeles Air Force Station and Space Command at Ent Air Force Base. In 1965, Dick was enrolled by the Air Force at the University of Wisconsin. There he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and graduated in 1967. He served in Southeast Asia with the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Ton Son Nhut Air Force Base flying low level combat reconnnaissance missions from 1968-1969. Herman’s fondest assignment though was when in 1975, he was assigned to Woomera, Australia as the Site Commander of the Joint Defense Space Communication Station. He retired from the Air Force on July 1, 1980 after 27 years of service. His decorations include two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal with four Campaign Stars, and the Defense Superior Service Medal. After retirement from the Air Force, Dick worked for Ford Aerospace and then Lockheed Martin. He retired from Lockheed as an Executive Vice President in 1996. Sertoma and Easter Seals were his passions in retirement. In the High Noon Sertoma Club, he was the Club President, and at Easter Seals of Southern Colorado, he was on the board of directors as well as served as the Chairman of the Board for two years. Dick and his wife, Phyllis, are members of the First Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs.

Herman (Dick) Richard Witzig is survived by his wife, Phyllis Witzig, three daughters: Julie (Larry) Cozad of Milliken, CO, Christine McLeod of Silt, CO, and Amy (Dan) Witzig-Spradlin of Glenwood Springs, CO; three grandchildren, Matthew (Tiffany) Donahue of Westminster, Leanne (Julio) Campos of Greeley, Leah (Jeremiah) Giambartolomei of Denver, CO and six great grandchildren. He is also survived by his

sister, Dorothy Eckhoff of Peoria, IL. Herman was preceded in death by his first wife, Sherrill A. Witzig, his mother, Ethel Witzig and his father, Herman Witzig. His family will remember him especially for his commitment to family, his high ethical nature, and his love for the outdoors.

A memorial honoring Dick Witzig will be held on Sunday, August 13 at Liberty Heights (12105 Ambassador Dr, Colorado Springs, CO) from 11:00-12:30. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Easter Seals Foundation, or Wounded Warrior Project.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Swan-Law.com for the Witzig family.