Fay Andrew Witte was born December 13, 1933, to Eugene Witte and Berniece (Reid) Witte, Alpena, SD, and died on June 28,, 2020 at the age of 86. He was baptized in the Methodist faith as an infant, and later as an adult was confirmed in the LCMS Lutheran faith.
Fay and his brother were raised on a farm by their grandparents, Andrew and Mayme Reid. He attended elementary school in Woonsocket and Rapid City, SD, and attended High School in Woonsocket, SD where he graduated in 1952.
Fay married his high school sweetheart, Janet Gutzmer, on January 25, 1953. To this union two children were born: Son, Rex, and daughter, Cheryle. The family lived in South Dakota and Minnesota before moving to Arizona in 1969.
Fay worked for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad for several years. He was a Depot Agent/Telegrapher, a Train Dispatcher, in Huron, SD, and a Train Master in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. After moving to AZ he worked for and retired in 1992 from First Interstate Bank, Phoenix, now Wells Fargo.
Fay was active in sports in high school and carried his love for sports all of his life as he followed professional and college teams. He enjoyed camping and traveling in the RV, he loved the outdoors as well as all animals and birds, especially the Humming birds that he fed daily. He loved to dance, Western music, playing his guitar, that Gaither Gospel singers, and in retirement during the summer he enjoyed spending time on the SD farm helping Janet's aging parents and refurbishing old Case tractors. He was humble, kind, gentle, a quiet man of few words, and had the patience of Job. He dearly loved his children, grandchildren, and his little miniature Doxie, Bella.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Janet, Son Rex, Grandsons Andrew (Rhonda) Witte, Seth Witte, Ian Witte, son-in-law Stu Keller, sister-in-law Marilynn Peters, brother's-in-law Norman Gutzmer, Wayne (Bonnie) Gutzmer, Wally (Judi) Gutzmer and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his mother, his grandparents, daughter Cheryle Keller, father and mother-in-law Otto and Margaret Gutzmer, his brother Kay Witte, sister-in-law Alyce Witte, and brother-in-law Wayne Peters.
Private graveside services to be held at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park, Mesa, Arizona, with a celebration of life to be held 11:30 AM, September 11, 2020 at Christ Greenfield Lutheran Church, 425 N. Greenfield Rd., Gilbert, Arizona 85233
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