Jim Witt's Obituary

James Roland Witt, age 90 of Apple Valley, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2026.  Jim was born on July 7, 1935 in Waterloo, Iowa to Roland and Leona (Dietsch) Witt.  He grew up in Waterloo and graduated from East High School in Waterloo.  After graduation he attended and received his bachelor's degree in Public Relations from the University of Iowa.  Jim was also part of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity at Iowa where he made many life long friends.

Jim married Patricia Griffith on November 16, 1957 at St. John's Catholic Church in Waterloo, IA.  Shortly after their wedding, Jim took a job with Rath Packing, also in Waterloo, where he worked in sales.  After working there for 7 years, Jim accepted a job with the 3M Company out of St. Paul, MN in varying roles of sales, marketing, and management in Cleveland, Wausau, and Detroit before finally settling in Apple Valley, MN.   He worked for 3M for 31 years and enjoyed his time there immensely.

Jim might have been the biggest Hawkeye fan you would ever meet.  From 1980 to 2010 he went to countless football and basketball games, and wrestling matches.  On several occasions attending the Big 10 Championship and National Championships for wrestling.  In his later years he would set his Saturday's aside to make sure he could catch the football game and always made a point to watch the Hawks regardless of the sport.  As far as Jim was concerned, there are 2 colors that rule over everything else:  Black & Gold.

The activity Jim enjoyed doing more than anything was fishing.  His favorite trip was his annual trip with his son, Barry, to Kabiwabik Lake in Sioux Lookout, Ontario.  This tradition lasted for two decades where walleye were the game fish of choice.  There was always a high level of anticipation of getting on the water with a bucket of bait, a full cooler, and a slight chop on the water.  Total and complete solitude.  One of Jim's better quotes as it pertained to fishing:  "Rain, wind, and cold.  Take any combination of 2 of those 3 elements and you can fish.  If you have all 3, then it's tough sleddin'……unless the fish are biting, then you can put up with just about anything."   This was a great reminder to have when Mother Nature wasn't cooperating. There was no doubt that Kabi was one of his favorite places on the planet.

Jim was an avid runner in his younger years and also golfed nearly his entire life, scoring his first and only hole-in-one at the young age of 76, but the thing he loved the most was spending time with his family. Holidays, birthdays, and barbeques are staples within his family.  These family gatherings were something he cherished more than anything.

Jim is preceded in his death by his parents, Roland and Leona, his mother and father in-law, Danny and Lucille Seery, and his brother-in-law Ron Griffith.

He survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Patricia; children Lisa (Bob) Perri, Angela (Greg) Dorfner, Ginette (David) Syverson, and Barry (Beth) Witt; siblings Richard (Sylvia) Witt, Marjorie Bovey, and twins Connie (Steve) Kelley, Bonnie (Dan) Connors; 9 grandchildren (Carly, Stefanie, Michelle, Katie, Brian, Colin, Claire, Sarah, & Abby), and 6 great grandchildren (Nick, Blake, Tyler, Kristopher, Madelyn, & Rayalynne);  also by many nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the White Funeral Home, 12804 Nicollet Avenue, Burnsville, Minnesota, 55337 on July 11, 2026 at 11:00 am.   In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Jim's memory to the National Cancer Society.  Cancer has touched Jim's family and this is a cause he truly believed in.