Jeanette M. Witter

Jeanette Marguerite (Mittelstaedt) Witter, Wenatchee, WA Jeanette, age 92, died peacefully at Confluence Hospital on Tuesday, February 6, 2018. She resided at Highgate Senior Living for the last year and a half. Jeanette was born to Margaret and Theodore Mittelstaedt at their farm homestead in Douglas, WA, where she was delivered by midwife, Dr. Ellis. She was the 4th of 12 children. She was baptized at the Douglas Lutheran Church on February 24, 1926, where her grandfather was a founding father. She was later confirmed at the church. Yearly family reunions are still held there. She continued her Christian faith as a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Wenatchee. Her schooling began in a one-room schoolhouse in Douglas often driven by her dad in a horse and sleigh durning the winter. After 8th grade she attended 9th through 12th grades in Waterville and graduated in 1943. After high school Jeanette remained in Waterville and lived with her older sister, Marie, where they were employed at the National Bank of Commerce. Jeanette met her future husband, Bud, at a Waterville dance. They married on February 3, 1947 in Coeur d'Alene and resided in a small home on Wilson Street in Wenatchee where Steve and Kathie were born. In 1953 the family moved into a new home on 7th Street where Tim was born. She was very proud of her new home, family, and numerous pets. She enjoyed decorating her home, tending her garden, sewing, knitting, volunteering at church and being a loving wife and mother. Later, her grandchildren were the center of her world, always being available to babysit and attend their activities. In 1964 the family purchased an orchard on Western Ave. where they built their final home. At the time, Western Ave. was out in the country where Bud would pull the family in the horse & sleigh. Jeanette found her greatest pleasure working in the 8 acre orchard of apple and cherries. Apple blossom was her favorite time of year. She was fiercely independent and resided there until 2016 long after Bud passed away in 2000. Finally at the age of 90 she moved into Highgate where she was loved and well taken care of. Jeanette's family will be forever grateful to the staff and residents. Besides being a homemaker, Jeanette had been employed as a secretary at Wenatchee's National Bank of Commerce, City Hall, and Washington Fruit Growers. Jeanette's surviving family includes daughter, Kathie (Brent), grandchildren Casey and Melanie, son, Tim (Wendy), grandchildren Savanna and Scott, and daughter-in-law Kathy, brothers, Arnold (Mina), Dan (Karen), sisters, Marie, Clarice, and Eva. In addition she leaves many much loved nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents Margaret and Theodore Mittelstaedt, loving husband Espey (Bud), son Steve, brothers, Andrew, Alfred, Robert, Richard, sisters, Elsa and Sharon. Jeanette's calling was to be a caregiver to many relatives and friends. Their needs always came first where she never asked for help for herself. Visitation will be at Jones & Jones-Betts Funeral Home on Friday, February 16, 2018 from 3 – 6 PM. A funeral service honoring Jeanette will be held at Grace Lutheran church in Wenatchee on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 11:00 AM. Burial will be on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at 11:00 AM at the Wenatchee City Cemetery. In honor of Bud, memorials may be made under Jeanette's name to the Northwest Parkinson's Foundation, 7525 SE 24th St., Suite 300, Mercer Island, WA 98040.

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Jeanette M. Witter

November 12, 1925 - February 6, 2018