Keith Alan Wittmeyer

Keith Wittmeyer passed away on Sept. 10, 2013 in Everett, WA. He was born Oct. 12, 1926 in Lacey, IA, the youngest of 7 children of Jesse and Edith Wittmeyer. His mother Edith died when Keith was 15 months old. The family moved to York, NE in 1931 and then to Sitka, AK in 1937 where his father joined the faculty of Sheldon Jackson, a 7 thru 12 grade Presbyterian mission school for Alaska natives. In 1938 his father married Ann Moore (Mom) of York, and she and her two daughters, Helen and Marjorie joined the family. Keith graduated from Sitka High School in 1944 and soon left for Seattle where he worked one year during WWII as a shipyard welder, commuting to Bainbridge Island. On Aug. 1, 1945 he was inducted into the Army, serving until 1947 in postwar Germany as a Finance Department Clerk. After discharge he entered the Univ. Of Washington studying music theory and composition, and earned a BA in 1950, an MA in 1955, and BA in music Education in 1957. He began teaching in the Seattle schools that year and by about 1960 changed to teaching mostly German for the remainder of his teaching career. In 1964 he and Marilyn Johnson, an occupational therapist at UW Hospital were married. They later made several trips to Hot Springs, SD for Marilyns high school reunions; Keith helped her in compiling two reunion booklets given to her classmates. Keith retired in 1984 after 27 years teaching. After Marilyns retirement in 1989, he often accompanied and assisted her in her volunteer work as a docent at Woodland Park Zoo. In 2000 and 2001 they traveled to Kenya and Tanzania as participants in the Zoo-sponsored travel programs. A few years later Marilyn began to show signs of dementia and in 2009 died of Alzheimers. In retirement Keith enjoyed spending time gardening, playing piano, composing music and maintaining the home. The Northwest Symphony Orchestra performed his Fantasy for Chamber Orchestra, which had won him a student award of $500 in 1953 from the Louisville Philharmonic; they performed it in several concerts that season. The Northwest Symphony also premiered his Toccata for Orchestra in 1998 and his Suite for String Orchestra in 2001. He and Marilyn had many pets, cats and dogs. They trained their dogs in obedience, novice, open, utility and tracking. Both taught obedience classes for many years for the Washington State Obedience Training Club. Keith was preceded in death by his sister Lois and brothers Merle, Elwin and Harold; and stepsisters Helen and Marge. He is survived by his sisters Ruth of Davis, CA and Doris of Tumwater, WA; as well as many nieces and nephews.