John N. Witmer, 90, of Spring Mills, died on Monday, February 1, 2010, at Valley View Haven at Belleville.
He was born on November 8, 1919, in Ferguson Township, a son of the late Claude J. and Della Rockey Witmer.
On April 6, 1942, he was married to the former Lois E. Rimmey, who preceded him in death on March 4, 1982.
John owned and operated a dairy farm in Potter Township most of his life. For many years he enjoyed doing custom work with his self-propelled John Deere twelve foot combine. After leaving the farm, John and Lois relocated to Boalsburg and he worked at HRB Singer as a security guard. In March 1967, he started working at Penn State University, in the bull barn and later in the poultry plant, retiring in June of 1984 after seventeen years of service.
Mr. Witmer was a lifelong member of Emmanuel United Church of Christ at Tusseyville, and a member of the Harris Township Game and Fish Association for many years. In the early fifties, he was an active member of the Penns Valley School Board and helped initiate the builing of the Penns Valley Area High School and the merger of various township schools. John was also a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Old Fort Lodge 537 in Centre Hall.
He was an avid turkey hunter and enjoyed deer hunting, fishing and spending time at the cabin he built at Bear Meadows. In his later years at Belleville, he enjoyed doing latch hook work.
John is survived by a son, Claude Witmer and his wife Nancy of Spring Mills, three grandchildren, Sharon Balban and her husband Jonathan, Michael Witmer, and Kimberly Heckman and her husband Daniel; seven great-grandchildren, Isaac, and Jeremiah Balban, Brandon and Bryana Witmer, and Katrina, Emma and Zachary Heckman all of Spring Mills.
Friends will be received from 9:30 to 11:00 Thursday, February 4, 2010 at Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral and Cremation Service, 226 S. Pennsylvania Ave. Centre Hall, PA. A Masonic Service will be conducted at 11:00 a. m. by members of Old Fort Lodge # 537. The funeral will follow immediately at the funeral home, with the Reverend Jeffrey Mugridge officiating. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family in the Emmanuel Reformed and Lutheran Cemetery at Tusseyville.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Emmanuel United Church of Christ, 3344 Penns Valley Pike, Spring Mills, PA 16875
A guest book can be signed or condolences sent to www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com.