Marvin Wittkopf

Spending his final days with his daughters and family by his side, Marvin Wittkopf passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 10 at the age of 87. Over the last few years, he clearly missed having his wife and constant companion, Miriam, by his side who passed away in 2019. They met while at Capital University standing in line to sign up for classes and were married in 1958. Having also attended the University of Wisconsin (Go Badgers!), Marvin was ordained on July 1, 1962. His first formal ministerial call was at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in McVille, North Dakota. In recommending him to that congregation, the American Lutheran Church District President commented, “I believe Mr. Wittkopf is one of the most able men in the entire graduate class. McVille will be very fortunate if they can secure this fine young man as their pastor.” With that promising start, Marvin Wittkopf spent the next fifty years in service to the church and its members. For thirty-five of those years, in addition to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in McVille, he also served at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wabash, Indiana and then Faith Lutheran Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. When the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America was formed, he was called to be an Assistant Bishop and for 21 years traveled throughout the Indiana Kentucky Synod guiding old and new churches alike. Once he officially retired, he continued working with churches assisting as an interim minister. Marv was born to Frieda and Marvin Wittkopf on July 13, 1936 in Oconto, Wisconsin as a Green Bay Packers fan. He had two siblings, Roger and Betty. While living in North Dakota, Marv and Miriam welcomed their first daughter, Elizabeth, into the world. Sarah followed when they moved to Wabash, Indiana. Living in South Bend, with daughters attending Indiana University and Purdue University, he was given no choice but to root for Notre Dame. Marv had a lifelong enjoyment of sports, both as a fan and as a participant. He enjoyed skiing, hiking, and playing church volleyball and softball. He also invested significant effort towards his frustrating and joyful relationship with golf. Marv applied much that same energy through the years working with the youth groups at his churches and was frequently found at camps and lock-ins playing the guitar and leading everyone in song. While living in Wabash Indiana, Marv and Miriam invested some money in a small out of the way plot of land in Brown County, where Marv eventually built a cabin for the family and helped deepen their lifelong interest in the outdoors and nature. Ultimately, those are the ways he would like to be remembered. An eager and active servant of Christ, a caring leader to all in his congregations, a loving husband and father to Elizabeth (and her family Greg and Van) and Sarah (and her family Gary and Isaiah), and as someone grateful for all the experiences and beauty that God allowed him to embrace and enjoy including, occasionally, the Green Bay Packers.

Marvin Wittkopf

July 13, 1936 - August 10, 2023