John Algerton Witmer was the only son of Beatryce and Colonel La Vern Grant Witmer. In school, John, or "Jack" as he was called at home, worked hard and rook special mathematics courses, dreaming of attending West Point, a goal confirmed when John went to the 1946 Army-Navy Game with his father.

John's father had commanded the 777th Field Artillery Battalion in the Europe during WWII. He returned to Philadelphia as vice president for Philadelphia Electric but was recalled to active duty and assigned to Japan in 1947. The Family accompanied him and lived on Army posts: for two years, eventually returning to Ft. Campbell, KY. On 7 Sep 1950, after being re-assigned to Japan during the Korean War, John's father died in a plane crash en route from Japan to Korea. This tragedy strengthened John's resolve to "follow dad into the Army.^'

In 1953, John graduated from Roosevelt high School in Des Moines, IA, and was very surprised to receive an appointment to the Military Academy without at least one year of military school. At West Point he was in C Company, which his Great Uncle Mock had been in, and he proudly kept the powder horn and biscuit Mock had carried during the Civil War. John participated in the Dialectic Society and Weight Lifting Cub and played water polo. He later regaled his children with stories of how he had almost drowned every time he played.

John's Howitzer bears the inscription, "Finally, Mom and Shep [John's stepfather]." John's Howitzer reads: ^"Moving into a highland home from the land of the tall mm was corn was an easy move for John, but the challenge of Portuguese was something to be remembered. Tearing into the books, John soon became a hive .. To most of us though, he'll be remembered as one of those wonderful fellows who spent long hours coaching goats. His encouragement and smile were helpful to us then and now starting on a new career."

From 1957 to 1960, John was a platoon leader and battery commander and a liaison officer to NATO on atomic nuclear weapons being delivered for the Cold War. On 27 Dec 1958 he married Ann Goodwin of Des Moines. John and Ann spent 18 months, in Zweibrucken Germany, with the 2nd Missile Battalion, 40th Artillery.

In 1960, John resigned to attend graduate school at the University of Iowa, graduating with a Master of Science in mathematical statistics, a minor in business finance, and a son, John A. Witmer III, born 2 Nov 1960. Their second son, Robert Scott, was born 16 Aug 1963 in Des Moines, where John worked with the Actuarial Department of Bankers Life Company. John subsequently became controller of Roll, Inc, but left in 1975 to further his interest in the banking community.

In 1971, John purchased Hill Dodge Banking Company, Warsaw, II, and eventually purchased three other banks in Iowa and Illinois. John was very active in the Des Moines community as a member of the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood, Goodwill Industries, Des Moines Science Center, Greater Des Moines United Way, Des Moines Junior Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary International.

On II Nov 1977, John married Janet Merz in Des Moines, where they resided until 1989, when they moved to Valrico, FL. There, John taught mathematics in public schools, Webber International University, Hillsborough Community College, University of Tampa, University of South Florida and Pasco-Hernando Community College. John and Jan then moved to Virginia Beach where he taught at Tidewater Community College and Saint Leo University. After two years, John and Jan moved back to Plant City, FL.

In October 2002, John was diagnosed with cancer. A month later, he passed away at home. During the last week of his life, he watched The Long Gray Line and often listened to West Point music. John and Jan had renewed their wedding vows on their 20th anniversary in the chapel at West Point. John is survival by his wife Jan, son John and Scott, and five grandchildren. He was buried with full military honors.

John cherished time with his family and his grandchildren and often told his sons, "Remember: it takes a lifetime to build a country and 15 seconds to ten it down." He loved to talk about history and politics, especially the Republican Party, and he always had time to tell or listen to a funny story. One of his favorite classmates was Tommy Thompson, and John told funny stories of what they did while at West Point. John also related with pride that the Class of '57 had marched at President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Inauguration. John enjoyed hunting and playing tennis, and his favorite place to he with his funny was Lake Vermillion.

Four days prior to John's death, his grand-son, Jackson Gant, wrote a later describing what he wished he could give to his grandfather, which his paren_ts found after John had passed away. In it Jackson wrote: "I would stay with my grandfather for a long time.... I would want to live with him.... I would write to and visit him as much as I could. . . . I can only do what's possible....1 love my grandpa and hope he can survive."

Jan affectionately called John "Wit." She wrote a poem entitled ^"Wit, Honey^" which was read at his funeral. In it, Jan recalled John's strength, wisdom, compassion, and respect fire others. She reminisced about his love for animals and for the farmland of Illinois and Iowa, as well as his beloved West Point. She said his top priorities were his sons and their families and she thanked John for his courage and love during 25 years of marriage. Jan recalled his pride in the Witmer name, remembering that John had once said, "We are Witmers here to say, we are strong in every way."