Rev. James F. Wittke
(February 28, 1956 – October 11, 2015)
Rev. James F. Wittke, 59, of Hanover passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 11, 2015 at Hanover Hospital. He was the loving husband of Jennifer A. (Achor) Wittke, Hanover. Together they shared 32 years of marriage.
He was born February 28, 1956 in Cleveland, OH, the son of the late Carl Francis and Geraldine Mae (Erickson) Wittke.
Rev. Wittke received his Master of Divinity degree from the Reform Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Wilkinsburg, PA and was the Pastor at Westminster Church of York County, Hanover. He did doctoral work in St. Louis, MO in church planning and revitalization. Rev. Wittke was a diehard Cleveland sports fan, avid history enthusiast, aspiring gardener and master story teller. A loving husband, father and friend, he will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Katherine MacFarlane Wittke Mathis and husband Nathanael, Winston Salem, NC; Sarah Wittke Williams and husband Jacob, Colts Neck, NJ; Benjamin Erickson Wittke and wife Emily, Kailua, HI and Victoria Fall Wittke, Winston Salem, NC and brother, Robert Carl Wittke and wife Sharon, South Euclid, OH.
A service to celebrate the life of Rev. James F. Wittke was held on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 1 PM at Manor Presbyterian Church, 505 Street Road, Cochranville, PA with Rev. Daniel H. Perrin officiated. Burial was in Faggs Manor Cemetery, Cochranville, PA. Serving as pallbearers were Benjamin Wittke, Robert Wittke, Peter Achor, William Achor, Nathanael Mathis and Paul V. Houriet, III.
Contributions in memory of Rev. James F. Wittke may be made to the North East Presbyterian Mercy Fund, C/O R. Gerard, 49 Elm Street, New Rochelle, NY 10805.
Contributions may also be made here.
Crossings Community ARP Helping the Community
All Midlands School districts are back up and running… however, one school had to hold class in a church.
The interior of Timmerman School was destroyed by the historic floods that hit South Carolina. Almost 300 students were displaced but the staff have been making things work from a nearby churches.
Robert Braciszewski with the school says, “we knew immediately when I stepped foot in the school and my foot splashed into that puddle of water that’s the first thing that came into my mind was where can we get them in school because I knew we were going to be shut down”.
While it took a couple days of rain and flooding to wipe out the interior of Timmerman School, it takes a lot more to wipe out their spirit.
“The principal came up and I think she could see it in my eyes that we were ruined, we were done and she hugged me and said we were going to get through it and we are and that’s what we’re doing right now we’re here getting through it one day at a time” said Braciszewski.
The first day started when students went back to school at Crossings Community ARP Church and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
“Even though there weren’t desks there weren’t chairs in these rooms we could see classrooms when we saw the white boards and we saw the space I said my teachers can teach here, this is perfect” said Braciszewski.
The students have stayed positive throughout the move as well. Hannah Jane Lucas is the student body president and says the change is scenery is cool.
“The bathrooms are really nice, yeah we’re just trying to make it as positive as possible” said Lucas.
From lunch in the patio to classrooms in sofa rooms, both the staff and students are just making it work.
“So these days are turning into 16 18 hour days then you get up with a smile on your face because it’s all about the kids” said Braciszewski.
Timmerman staff tells us construction is now underway and they hope to be back in their building within the next 3 weeks.
The original article can be found here.