Gordon Witzel

Gordon R. Witzel, age 97 of Newport was received into the arms of his heavenly Father on March 11, 2022.

A celebration of Gordon’s life will be 11 am, Saturday, April 2, 2022 at Newport Lutheran Church, 900 – 15th Street, Newport, with visitation one hour prior.  Interment Cottage Grove Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to the organ fund at Newport Lutheran Church.

Gordon Ralph Witzel was born to Ralph C.R. Witzel and Estella Alice (Cummings) Witzel in Newport, MN in the spring of 1924.  Gordon was a member of the “Greatest Generation”, surviving the years of the Great Depression with his family, and then serving proudly in the United States Army, in the European Theater during WWII.  Upon return from the war, he met and married Lorraine Shaver.  They had 2 children, Karen and David, and the family lived for several years in the homes he helped to build.

Lorraine passed away suddenly in 1979.  In May of 1981, he married Dorothy Melin, Dorothy bringing grown children Al and Julie into the family unit.  Gordy and Dorothy enjoyed a full and wonderful life of 38 years together, until Dorothy’s passing in December 2019.  In their retirement years they had    traveled the world, touring many interesting and beautiful countries.  Gordy was a member of Newport Lutheran Church, which he attended and served faithfully throughout his entire adult life.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his sister June Lowe (and spouse Cecil), his sister Carol Dufour (and spouse Boyd), his wife Lorraine, his wife Dorothy, and his step-daughter Julie Langmaack-Melin.  He is survived by daughter Karen Thornton (Ralph), son David (Doris), and step-son Al (Pat) Melin; grandchildren Russell Thornton and Kevin Thornton; Scott (Stephanie) Witzel, Laura (Eric) Burger, Becky (Andy) Johnson, and Jessica (Jason) Rasch; great-grandchildren Adaline, Charlie, Ruby, and Freddy Witzel; Steffen and Michael Burger; David, Evelyn, and Estella Johnson and Olivia Rasch and many nieces and nephews.

LIVESTREAM INFORMATION:  For those who would like to participate in Gordon's service via livestream, you can watch the service on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 11:00 am.  It can be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of this page, and "CLICK PLAY" to begin.  Please leave a message of support on our Tribute Wall to let the family know you were able to watch the service.  If you are having troubles with the Livestream, the service will be available to watch later in the day.