Milo E. Wittkopf Obituary (1943 - 2020)

Milo E. Wittkopf, 77, received his heavenly reward on December 6, 2020 with his family gathered around him at home. Milo was born in Yakima, Washington on September 8, 1943 to William and Florence Dudley Wittkopf. He joined his big brother, Rollan who was five at the time. When he was two, his family moved to Pasadena, California where he grew up. When he was three, twins Marshall and Marsha joined the family. As he was growing up the family returned to Yakima several times to visit kin and friends. One of those families had a daughter named Yvonne. Yvonne's family and Milo's family had been part of the same church before the kids were born. Their mothers had worked together and become good friends. Milo and Yvonne remembered seeing each other at 11 years old. Some years passed before they met again at age 19 and became best of friends. Through letter writing and a few phone calls they fell in love and decided to marry in Yakima in August of 1963. They were married in the First Church of the Nazarene in Yakima. They lived the first year of marriage in Pasadena and then moved to Yakima, where they had their first daughter Beth. Due to his job as a journeyman grocery clerk, they moved to Seattle in 1966. In Seattle another daughter, Bonney was added to the family, in 1967. They attended the Burien Nazarene Church, where Milo taught the teen class. Milo had felt the call to become a pastor for some time. About the time the Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colorado had recently begun. Within two years the family of four headed to Colorado to attend the college. While at school, Billy joined the family in 1971. Milo graduated from NBC in 1972 and accepted a call to his first pastorate in Princeton, Idaho. Following Princeton, he pastored in Philomath, Oregon, Burley, Parma and Franklin Community Church in Nampa. Milo was a real supporter of church schools. While he was in Philomath, the church started a Christian school. Later he helped with the school in Burley, taught Bible at Nampa Christian and later directed the school at Grace Bible in Nampa. He enjoyed pastoring and helping with youth camps in McCall. While pasturing at Franklin Community Church, he started driving part time for Caldwell Transportation. After Resigning from the church, he continued to drive charter bus until he was 75. He met lots of people during those years and enjoyed many fun tours with senior adults, teens and music groups. Yvonne was able to join him on many of those trips. Besides his ministry, family was always very important to him. His children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren were the delight of his life. Milo is survived by his wife Yvonne; his daughters Beth (John) Thomas, Bonney (Chris) Little; and his son Bill (Deona) Wittkopf; seven grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren; and now nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Rollan and Marshal (Judy); and sister Marsha (Ed) Lewis. The family is planning a celebration of his life on February 27 at 3:00 PM in the Karcher Nazarene Church and hoping friends will join with us at that time. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made in Milo's honor at Trinity Pines.