Birth date: May 3, 1980 Death date: Apr 18, 2026
Timothy George Wittmer, 45, of Decatur, IL, passed away at 12:25 P.M. on Saturday (April 18, 2026) at his home. Tim was born on May 3, 1980, in Champaign, IL, the son of James Frederick Wittmer and Ann Esther (Eshbaugh) Wittmer. Read Obituary
You will be greatly missed. I remember when you all would come to Sam's Club. You always waited to come through my line so Aric could speak with me. Thank you for being a great friend.
Tim, your leadership, confidence, and humor got us through the deployment. Thank you for your friendship. You will be missed by everyone in Whiskey 1, especially the warriors you rode with in Black 5. Semper Fi, buddy.
- Your friend, Ben Fo.
I was a young PFC in 1/25 and when I learned that Tim and I would be riding together in Whiskey 1, I was intimidated. His name carried a ton of respect in the Battalion, as he was one of the few prior active duty Marines with combat experience. He was a proud Phantom Fury veteran, having served with 3/5 (Darkhorse) in that notorious operation.
I was 19 years old, new to the Marine Corps, and found myself getting into troublesome situations. More than once, Tim stood up for me. He refused to part ways with me as his driver when higher ups insisted I get pulled from the platoon. We formed a bond that only two young men can create in the midst of a war zone.
Respect is a funny thing in the military. Rank and experience often "demand" it. We spent months together, cramped in our HMMWV in the Iraqi summer, and it didn't take long for Tim to EARN my respect, through his leadership, steadfast confidence, and friendship. Even on our hardest days, Tim knew how to make us laugh. We needed that, as we struggled with the random chaos of the deployment. Everyone in Whiskey 1 will miss Tim, especially the Marines, sailors, and interpreters that rode with him Black 5. Semper Fi, buddy. - Your friend, Ben Fo
Tim and I were friends since 2001, the consummate warrior and a truly amazing person. I'll share a brief email from Tim I have from 2004..."Thanks for the love bro, we just got back from our initial push. We got "it" (Fallujah) secured and we're gonna be rotating in and out. Wish you were here. Sorry no time for more but I'll send you updates as often as possible.
Tim"
Tim cared deeply about his tribe, his family, his community and his country. He often talked to us about his love for his wife, step-son and son and brothers. He will be missed and remembered by all of us!
Semper Fi Brother. We love you.
Tony B
Offering condolences and praying for family and friends. May the Lord bless you with comfort and strength that this time.
Doretta Freeman
We were lucky to have him as an SRO at Stephen Decatur Middle School. He was a wonderful role model and had a great rapport with our students. A bright light for our kids.
