John Wittliff

John S. Wittliff III died peacefully in Port Huron Hospital Monday, February 6, 2006, after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer. Born March 28, 1941, he was the third child of the late John S. Wittliff and Margaret Heaney Wittliff. John was 64 years old. He is survived by his loving wife, Diana MacJennett Wittliff, a daughter, Stephanie Wittliff, two sons, Michael Coulter Wittliff of Fort Gratiot, and Patrick (Tammy) Mc Donald of Jeddo, Michigan, and two grandchildren, Raelyn and Colin McDonald. John will be sadly missed by his sisters, Virginia and Mary Wittliff of Lakeport, and four brothers, Michael (Belle) Wittliff of Kimball, Thomas (Kathleen) Wittliff of Port Huron, Philip Wittliff of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Frank Wittliff of Port Huron, two nieces, Sarah Wittliff of Chicago and Andrea Wittliff of Corunna, Ontario, and two nephews, Philip John Wittliff of Milwaukee and Ryan McInnis of Chicago. He will be fondly remembered by his parents-in-law, Gordon and Merle MacJennett of Port Huron, and his sisters-in-law, Sharon (Kim) MacJennett-Rotermund of Boyne City, and Debbie (Philip) Williamson of Tucson, Arizona. He was a partner in the Wittliff Insurance Agency. John cherished stories from his Little League years and shared them often. He had recently become a serious Marquette basketball fan and had always enjoyed watching Notre Dame win football games. A long-time member of the Port Huron Yacht Club, John was very proud of his status as an "old goat," having completed his twenty-sixth Port Huron-to-Mackinac race last summer as a senior member of the crew and the chef on the Jubilee. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman. Following John's wishes, his body has been donated to the University of Michigan Medical Center. The family will receive friends at the Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home from 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, February 10. A memorial mass celebrating John's life will be offered by Father Arthur Baranowski the following morning (February 11) at St. Christopher's Church in Marysville at 11 a.m.