John J. Wittenberg

John Junior Wittenberg, 81, of Strasburg, IL, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at his residence.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Strasburg, with visitation an hour before the service. Rev. Kene Whybrew officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 10th in the church. Burial will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Strasburg, IL. Memorials may be given to The Edie Jane Foundation or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home in Strasburg.

John was born on November 11, 1944, in Strasburg, IL, the son of John E. and Edith (Pfeiffer) Wittenberg. He graduated from Stewardson- Strasburg High School and later from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in botany. He was a member of the Army National Guard. He was a lifetime farmer on the family farm in Strasburg. He married Judith “Judy” Ann Brumleve on August 21, 1971. They just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Strasburg, the Gold Wing Motorcycle Club, and The Lincoln Lander’s RV Club. He was a former member on the Board of St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Strasburg Lion’s Club, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Men’s Club, and helped organize the Veteran’s War Memorial in Strasburg.

John was a pretty adventurous guy in his younger days. A picture of him was found in his bible of him skydiving when he was 60! He also liked roller coasters and anything he could get in the air…airplaines, gyrocopters, ultralights, helicopters, some of which he built with his own two hands. John had many interests. He had a passion for flying, farming (alongside his son, Barry), camping, boating, going on motorcycle rides with his wife, Judy, and he thoroughly enjoyed his peace and quiet. What better place to be than up in the sky seeing all of God’s glory above and below or alone in the combine reaping the harvest of what they had sown. John and Judy spent their winters in Florida, which John cherished. John’s peace and quiet all came to a halt when the first of his nine grandkids were born, but oh, how he loved them all and they loved him. He didn’t say much, but when he did, we all would listen, and then probably laugh. He was a patient, kind, quiet and funny soul! He was a great husband, dad, papa, father-in-law and uncle who will be missed by those who knew and loved him. But as he said when he was in the hospital and had been asked (sometimes multiple times a day), “Do you know where you are?” He said, “I am in God’s hands!” He knew where he was, and he knew where he was going! And what a special place that is! The best part of it all is that he is reunited with his two smallest and best angels, Edie and Andrew, who we are pretty sure were the first ones in line to give him the biggest hugs ever, right behind Jesus!

John is survived by his wife, Judy, of Strasburg; son, John “Barry” (wife Courtney Hooten) Wittenberg of Strasburg; daughter, Sara (husband Kenneth) Hayes of Stewardson; 7 grandchildren: Jordan, Austin and Ellie Wittenberg and Hannah, Natalie, Samantha and Kendra Hayes; sisters-in-law; Kay Jansen of Effingham and Pat (Charlie) Brumleve of Effingham; brother-in-law; Don (Joan) Brumleve of Dieterich; and many nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents; father and mother-in-law; Joe and Verena Brumleve; grandchildren; Edie and Andrew Wittenberg; sister-in-law; Mary Jo Schulte; and brothers-in-law; Gene Schulte and Jim Jansen.