Richard Keith Wittenstrom

Richard Keith Wittenstrom, aged 74, resident of Gilbert, Michigan, formerly of Rochester Hills, MI and Pinehurst, NC, passed away October 11, 2013. Beloved husband of 46 years to Gay (Heiden), loving father to Jennifer (Craig) VanCoillie, Rebecka (Nick) Kourvetaris, and Amy (Andy) Bentz. Proud grandfather to Jacob, Xander, Lukas, Ben, Noah, Jonah, and Ellie. Fond brother of Judie (Dave) Sprague, Jackie (Robert) Dahlstrom, and the late Reverend Robert (Jean) Wittenstrom.

Keith graduated from Cadillac High School in 1957. He went on to attend Ferris State University and Wayne State University, earning degrees in Biology and Chemistry. Following college, Keith served with U.S. Peace Corps in Ethiopia for 2 years where he taught the sciences in a rural intermediate school. He later went on to help establish and chair the Michigan Peace Corps Council. Keith was a member of the Science Department at Oakland Community College from its inception in 1965. He taught there as a professor for 35 years.

Keith was an active member of the Rochester community, serving on the Rochester Community School Board for 8 years. He was also instrumental in the creation of Turning Point, a community drug intervention center. During the African Hunger Relief efforts of the 80s, Keith headed up several fund raising projects.

As a member of the Swedish club, he enjoyed singing locally and nationally with ARPI, the male Swedish Chorus.

He belonged to Trinity Lutheran Church of Manton, MI, where he served as president of the church council.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 11am at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2780 North 41 Road, Manton, MI. The family will receive friends for visitation from 10:00AM until time of service. Final interment will take place at Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Keith’s name to Lutheran World Relief or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Please visit Keith’s personal book of memories page at www.oakgrovefh.com to share a memory of photo with his family. The family has entrusted funeral arrangements with Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Manistee.

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