Marvin J. Wittman

Marvin J. Wittman, civic leader and retired partner in Wittman Farms Inc., passed away at home after a brief illness on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016.

Marvin was born Feb. 7, 1921, on a homestead near Uniontown to George and Clara Weber Wittman, the third of nine children. In 1925, his family bought a ranch on McCormack Ridge near Culdesac. Educated first at the St. Joseph's Mission in Slickpoo, Idaho, he graduated as salutatorian from Culdesac High School in 1939. His plans to attend the University of Idaho were sidelined by his father's sudden death his senior year in high school, as Marvin was then needed at home to help run the family livestock operation. In 1942, facing a draft notice, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and trained as a service pilot and eventually as a radio operator and gunner on B-24s. When his brother was later drafted, it forced a dispersion sale of the prizewinning Wittman purebred cattle herd, whereupon their mother and younger siblings moved to Lewiston and the farm was rented out.

One fateful day when home on leave, Marvin borrowed his mother's car so he could drive up to the ranch and meet the people who had leased the home place. When he pulled up to the big white farmhouse, as he often recounted, "This gorgeous woman in a red dress came gliding out of the house, stuck her hand out over the gate and said, 'Hi, I'm Helen.' " From that moment, he said, he knew he had met the love of his life.

Discharged from the service in 1946, he returned to the ranch to farm and raise cattle, eventually in partnership with his brothers Barthel and Daniel Wittman. On June 14, 1948, he made Helen Herndon his bride, launching a steadfast romance that endured for 68 years. That alliance produced eight children.

Marvin approached parenting the same way he approached everything - with purpose, passion and common sense. He was a parent first and a playmate second, not the other way around. He taught his children that "work" is not a four-letter word and showed them by example how to appreciate the often-exhausted pleasure that attends a job well done. In synchronized partnership with Helen, he showed his kids how to have fun together, whether singing in three-part harmony, playing pinochle and Monopoly, waterskiing on the river, fishing on Winchester Lake, sledding down the mountain or making granny shots at the basketball hoop in the shop.

He braved Helen's legendary practical jokes with grace and patience and yet delighted in any opportunity to show her how much he loved her, often with red roses and mushy Hallmark cards. His affection for his own siblings and the Herndon in-laws provided countless hours of extended family mirth and gave his offspring a tribe of cousins who, to this day, are his kids' best friends.

In addition to working and helping raise his brood, Marvin invested deeply in his community. An axiom his children often heard, as he went off to one meeting or another, was, "Volunteering is the toll you pay for the public ground you walk on."

In collaboration with Dr. Keith Farrell of Washington State University, he developed Freeze Branding, a revolutionary and more humane method of branding cattle that also preserved the animal hide and made brands more visible from a distance. Freeze branding is now utilized in countless applications around the world, over a broad range of animal species. His many civic contributions included 4-H Club leadership, service on Lapwai and Culdesac school boards, as well as the board of directors of the local, state and national Cattlemen's Associations. He spent many years on the Idaho Public Livestock Market Board, the UI Agriculture Consulting Council, the Idaho Governor's Ag Advisory Board and the Idaho Beef Council. In 1971, he was appointed to the Idaho House of Representatives to complete the term of Ed Williams, and in 1972 he was appointed to the Idaho Board of Health and Welfare. In 1974, he was asked to serve on a task force to develop an interstate-cooperative program in veterinary medical education, in collaboration with Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Following implementation of the program, Marvin continued as chairman of the UI Medical Education Advisory committee to ensure the program met the needs of the students and the animal industries of the state. In 1981, he was appointed to the board of directors of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. He also spent 17 years on the hospital foundation board. He was a member of St. James Catholic parish, where he served on the parish council and was a lifetime member of the Elks, Knights of Columbus, American Legion and Moose Lodge. He was recognized in 1959 with his two brothers as Idaho Grassmen of the Year, and in 1976 he received the Agriculture Honorary, Gamma Sigma Delta Award, at the UI. In 1981, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in natural resources from the UI, recognizing a lifetime of real world education and his valuable contributions to the agricultural canon. In 2008, he was named grand marshal of the Lewiston Roundup and proudly shared the honor with Helen.

In 1980, as part of the ranch's succession planning, Helen and Marvin moved to Lewiston.

He retired from ranching in 1985, and then took up a long-awaited avocation, woodworking. There is probably not a home in the Lewiston area, or for that matter any home of a relative or friend of a relative that does not count among its treasures one of his wooden implements or craft works. From his elegant wooden spoons to his graceful wooden knives, fish knockers, rolling pins, games, oil lamps, vases, bowls, birdhouses and every imaginable rendering in every wood known to man; the ingenuity and joy he invested in those thousands of creations, all given away, is a woodworking legacy that survives as testimony to his curiosity and artistic talent.

Marvin gave without ever keeping score. And never one to indulge in self-pity, his ready answer to the question "How are you?" - regardless of the state of affairs in his life - never wavered from "Just right!" Indeed, he brought a kaleidoscope of expressions to his dealings with his many trademark phrases, including, "By dingy dongy!" when opening a gift, "Never rush a hug," when embracing someone, "I'll go prepare the bridal chamber," when heading off to bed, and "That wasn't very good public relations," when a kid did something he knew was wrong.

His desire to make the world a better place extended to everything he touched. Whether designing and building new structures on the farm or fashioning a jig to make a job proceed more efficiently, he considered the long-term benefits, made the most of the resources available and strove to build it for the next generation. And yet, never once did he look around for praise. He was a genuinely humble man and walked the talk of an authentically spiritual soul. He was devoted to his Catholic faith, the rosary was his nighttime ritual and only serious illness could keep him from Sunday Mass.

He will be remembered for his extraordinary integrity, unlimited generosity and kindness and a devotion to his wife that knew no bounds. We have lost a patriarch, a tireless community servant, a one-of-a-kind role model and the personification of "perfect gentleman." His 95-year life inspired every person he knew.

In addition to his "bride" Helen Wittman; he is survived by his children, Richard Wittman (Dawn), Rebecca Wittman (David Bolin), Kristine Marvich (Steve), Mark Wittman (Joanie), Kurt Wittman (Pamela), John Wittman (Mary) and Kelly Schaeffer (Cliff); along with 23 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and sister, Lorraine Wilkerson. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, David; daughter-in-law Connie; and his siblings Charlotte, Barthel, Ivora, Joan, Patti, Kathryn and Dan.

A vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at All Saints Catholic Church. Funeral Mass is at 11 a.m. Thursday. Interment at Lewis-Clark Memorial Gardens will take place at 9 a.m. Friday. Memorials can be made to St. Joseph Hospice, Monastery of St. Gertrude's, All Saints Catholic School Building Fund or Camp Wittman Endowment Fund care of Lewiston Boys and Girls Club.

Arrangements are being handled by Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home of Lewiston.

One final thing: Whenever parting ways or hanging up a telephone, Marvin never said "Goodbye" but always chimed, "See you on the rebound!" Alas, we can only pray ...

65th anniversary Helen and Marvin Wittman 

Helen Herndon and Marvin Wittman met in 1945 at the Wittman ranch as he was home on leave from the U.S. Air Force. Later, on Craig Mountain, he made quite an impression "calling" the cows to the salt-box!

Following his 4 1/2 years in the Air Force, they married June 14, 1948, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Lewiston. They will celebrate 65 years Saturday at a family gathering.

Marv returned to the ranch and sometime after the honeymoon they left in the dark to gather cattle. As the sun came up, Helen realized how steep the area was and opted to lead her horse, vowing to raise as many cowboys and cowgirls as needed.

They were blessed with five sons, three daughters, 21 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren with two more expected this year.

Marv believes community service was a priority: "The price you pay for the ground you walk on."

He contributed to many state and local groups, including president of Nez Perce County and Idaho State Cattlemen, chairman of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Foundation boards of directors, 4-H leadership and chairman of Idaho State Board of Health. In conjunction with WSU and the University of Idaho, he developed freeze branding techniques used in branding cattle and horses which are in use today.

He was awarded an honorary degree, Doctor of Natural Resources, from the University of Idaho in 1981 and the Governor's Lifetime Achievement for excellence in agriculture at the 2013 Ag Summit Conference in Boise.

Helen was a pastoral musician for 60 years at Catholic churches in the Lapwai-Lewiston area and volunteered at Lapwai High School. She was a 4-H leader and a charter member of the Nez Perce County Cowbelles.

Both are members of All Saints Catholic Church in Lewiston and agree an active faith is the best foundation for a happy, lengthy marriage.

Fishing, gardening and preserving foods in addition to music and family gatherings are special activities to them. They are avid supporters of the Seattle Mariners and the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Marv, and brothers Barthel (Bob) and Daniel were 30-year partners in Wittman Farms in the Lapwai-Culdesac area.

Their children are Dick (Dawn) Wittman, Rebecca (David) Bolin, Kristine (Steve) Marvich, Mark (Joanie) Wittman, Kurt (Pam) Wittman, John (Mary) Wittman and Kelly (Clifford) Schaeffer. David managed the cattle operation and died in 1995.