She married Bernard (Bernie) Whitman on December 4, 1984 in Rockford, IL. Debbie worked in her younger years as a bartender at Hugo’s, Western Tap and especially enjoyed working at Bill & Roses on Blackhawk Island in Fort Atkinson, WI. Bernie and Debbie enjoyed camping there for many years and making many friends.
She was a full time housewife enjoying working with her flowers from dawn to dusk…cooking and spending time with family and friends. Her flowers were her passion and had the prettiest flower gardens and could tell you the name and care for each and every one of them.
She is survived by her husband Bernie; granddaughter Faith; Sisters Dianne (Mike) Faherty and Bridgette (Darren) Tinjum; Brothers Kendall (Debi) Sturtevant and James (Brenda) Sturtevant, Jr., many nieces and nephews. Special care givers Danny and Val Smith, Mary Files and Shannon Cardot for our tea parties and sharing special memories, and to brother-in-law Mike for my chocolate pudding and my front porch “made just for me”
Debbie fought a hard fight not for her but for us and she will be greatly missed. Now she will go onto take care of the flower gardens in heaven and run through them with her beloved puppy Mitzy.
She was preceded in death by Mitzy, her precious puppy for 22 years; mother Alice (Sturtevant) Siepp; father James Sturtevant, Sr. and step-father William Siepp.
A visitation to celebrate Debbie’s life will be Thursday May 22, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Advantage Funeral Home 7000 W. State St. in Rockford. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.advantagerockford.com
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