Ivan L. Witbracht, 93, Vandalia

By Editor | January 2, 2012 |

Ivan Lee Witbracht, 93, of Vandalia, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 9:40 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, at Fayette County Hospital Long Term Care in Vandalia.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Vandalia, with Dr. Roger Grimmett officiating. Burial will be in Fairlawn Cemetery in Vandalia. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday and from 9:30 a.m. until time of services on Wednesday, both at the church. Miller Funeral Home in Vandalia was in charge of arrangements. Memorials: First United Methodist Church music department in Vandalia or donor’s choice. Online condolences may be offered at www.millerfh.net.

Mr. Witbracht was born on Aug. 5, 1918, in Randolph County, the son of James A. and Mary L. Wente Witbracht. He married Jeanne Louise Froeschle on July 6, 1946, and they recently celebrated their 65th anniversary; she died on Dec. 18, 2011.

Ivan was a devoted and loving father of four children, and a well-respected member of the St. Elmo and Vandalia communities. While in St. Elmo, he was a grade school teacher, principal and schools administrator; a member of First United Methodist Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher; and worked with the Cub Scouts. He was selected to be a teacher and principal at a DoD school in Captieux, France, where he assists in the U.S. Army post chapel and scouting programs. Returning to Vandalia, he was the assistant county superintendent of schools and the education administrator at Vandalia Correctional Center, where he established and administered the first prison pilot school program in Illinois.

Ivan also served as the school attendance officer for Fayette, Bond and Effingham counties. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Vandalia and a charter member of Operation OUTING, and he assisted with the Evergreen Outreach program. He was active in the Illinois Educators Association, and served many people through the Boy Scouts and Meals on Wheels program.

He is survived by daughters, Barbara and her husband Bob McCart of Vandalia; Lynn and her husband David O’Hara of Colleyville, Texas, and Sue and her husband Eric Miller of Shobonier; son, I. Lee Witbracht and his wife Valerie of Madison, Ala.; 14 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and a sister, Marion Witbracht Meierhoff.