John Bittorf
John Bittorf, 74, a resident of Racine since 1871, died at the family home early this morning after a long illness. He was born in Germany and came to America with his parents the late Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Bittorf, when an infant. They made their home in Chicago until the fire of 1871, when their home and belongings burned and they moved to Racine. For several years he sailed the Great Lakes and then entered the first life saving station established here. For 10 years he was a bridge tender, and another 10 years were spent on the crew of the U.S. Life Saving service. Surviving are his wife, four sons, Arthur, Edward and William in Racine, and John in Beloit, one daughter, Mrs. Arthur Swartz of Kenosha, 16 grandchildren, and one brother, Casper Bittorf of this city. The body may be viewed at the Dahl Funeral home Sunday afternoon and evening, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday. Rev. G.W. Genszler will officiate with burial in Mound cemetery.
John Bittorf, above, a resident of the city for 60 years, who gave up the life of a sailor to aid mariners in distress, is dead.
DEATH SUMMONS JOHN BITTORF, 74
Eventful Life Ended After Long Illness; Burial on Monday.
John Bittorf, aged 74, who died early this morning at his residence, 1712 North Wisconsin street, following a long illness, had an eventful life. He was born in Germany, but when he was still an infant his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Bittorf, brought him to the city of Chicago, where they lived until the big fire in 1871. Their little home was one of the many hundred buildings destroyed in that conflagration and their loss resulted in removal to this city.
After completing his education here, he satisfied his longing for a life of exciting interest by shipping aboard a lake schooner. He, like other boys living near the lake front, had mingled with the lake sailors at a time when dozens of the craft lined the local docks at all times during the summer, and became imbued with the spirit of a mariner. He followed the lakes for a number of years and when the federal government established the coast guard station here, he enlisted and served as a member of the first crew for ten years.
Coast Guard Many Years.
Life as a coast guardsman brought him into dangerous positions, there being numerous wrecks in this area at that time on account of the large number of sailing craft that dotted the lake. He took part in many daring rescues and spent many hours out on the storm-tossed lake working with sailors to save their craft or to transfer them to their boat from sinking vessels.
After leaving the service of the government he entered that of the city of Racine. He was appointed a bridgetender, in which position he served for ten years or more.
Surviving are his widow, four sons, Arthur, Edward and William, all of this city, and John, of Beloit, Wis., and one daughter, Mrs. Arthur Swartz, of Kenosha, 16 grandchildren and a brother, Caspar Bittorf, of Racine.
Funeral on Monday.
Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Dahl funeral home, the Rev. G.W. Genszler, pastor of Holy Communion church, officiating. Burial will be in Mound cemetery.
The body may be viewed at Dahl's Sunday afternoon and evening.
Contributor:
L. Dickerson
John Bittorf, 74, a resident of Racine since 1871, died at the family home early this morning after a long illness. He was born in Germany and came to America with his parents the late Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Bittorf, when an infant. They made their home in Chicago until the fire of 1871, when their home and belongings burned and they moved to Racine. For several years he sailed the Great Lakes and then entered the first life saving station established here. For 10 years he was a bridge tender, and another 10 years were spent on the crew of the U.S. Life Saving service. Surviving are his wife, four sons, Arthur, Edward and William in Racine, and John in Beloit, one daughter, Mrs. Arthur Swartz of Kenosha, 16 grandchildren, and one brother, Casper Bittorf of this city. The body may be viewed at the Dahl Funeral home Sunday afternoon and evening, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday. Rev. G.W. Genszler will officiate with burial in Mound cemetery.
John Bittorf, above, a resident of the city for 60 years, who gave up the life of a sailor to aid mariners in distress, is dead.
DEATH SUMMONS JOHN BITTORF, 74
Eventful Life Ended After Long Illness; Burial on Monday.
John Bittorf, aged 74, who died early this morning at his residence, 1712 North Wisconsin street, following a long illness, had an eventful life. He was born in Germany, but when he was still an infant his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Bittorf, brought him to the city of Chicago, where they lived until the big fire in 1871. Their little home was one of the many hundred buildings destroyed in that conflagration and their loss resulted in removal to this city.
After completing his education here, he satisfied his longing for a life of exciting interest by shipping aboard a lake schooner. He, like other boys living near the lake front, had mingled with the lake sailors at a time when dozens of the craft lined the local docks at all times during the summer, and became imbued with the spirit of a mariner. He followed the lakes for a number of years and when the federal government established the coast guard station here, he enlisted and served as a member of the first crew for ten years.
Coast Guard Many Years.
Life as a coast guardsman brought him into dangerous positions, there being numerous wrecks in this area at that time on account of the large number of sailing craft that dotted the lake. He took part in many daring rescues and spent many hours out on the storm-tossed lake working with sailors to save their craft or to transfer them to their boat from sinking vessels.
After leaving the service of the government he entered that of the city of Racine. He was appointed a bridgetender, in which position he served for ten years or more.
Surviving are his widow, four sons, Arthur, Edward and William, all of this city, and John, of Beloit, Wis., and one daughter, Mrs. Arthur Swartz, of Kenosha, 16 grandchildren and a brother, Caspar Bittorf, of Racine.
Funeral on Monday.
Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Dahl funeral home, the Rev. G.W. Genszler, pastor of Holy Communion church, officiating. Burial will be in Mound cemetery.
The body may be viewed at Dahl's Sunday afternoon and evening.
Contributor:
L. Dickerson
John Bittorf
John Bittorf, 74, a resident of Racine since 1871, died at the family home early this morning after a long illness. He was born in Germany and came to America with his parents the late Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Bittorf, when an infant. They made their home in Chicago until the fire of 1871, when their home and belongings burned and they moved to Racine. For several years he sailed the Great Lakes and then entered the first life saving station established here. For 10 years he was a bridge tender, and another 10 years were spent on the crew of the U.S. Life Saving service. Surviving are his wife, four sons, Arthur, Edward and William in Racine, and John in Beloit, one daughter, Mrs. Arthur Swartz of Kenosha, 16 grandchildren, and one brother, Casper Bittorf of this city. The body may be viewed at the Dahl Funeral home Sunday afternoon and evening, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday. Rev. G.W. Genszler will officiate with burial in Mound cemetery.
John Bittorf, above, a resident of the city for 60 years, who gave up the life of a sailor to aid mariners in distress, is dead.
DEATH SUMMONS JOHN BITTORF, 74
Eventful Life Ended After Long Illness; Burial on Monday.
John Bittorf, aged 74, who died early this morning at his residence, 1712 North Wisconsin street, following a long illness, had an eventful life. He was born in Germany, but when he was still an infant his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Bittorf, brought him to the city of Chicago, where they lived until the big fire in 1871. Their little home was one of the many hundred buildings destroyed in that conflagration and their loss resulted in removal to this city.
After completing his education here, he satisfied his longing for a life of exciting interest by shipping aboard a lake schooner. He, like other boys living near the lake front, had mingled with the lake sailors at a time when dozens of the craft lined the local docks at all times during the summer, and became imbued with the spirit of a mariner. He followed the lakes for a number of years and when the federal government established the coast guard station here, he enlisted and served as a member of the first crew for ten years.
Coast Guard Many Years.
Life as a coast guardsman brought him into dangerous positions, there being numerous wrecks in this area at that time on account of the large number of sailing craft that dotted the lake. He took part in many daring rescues and spent many hours out on the storm-tossed lake working with sailors to save their craft or to transfer them to their boat from sinking vessels.
After leaving the service of the government he entered that of the city of Racine. He was appointed a bridgetender, in which position he served for ten years or more.
Surviving are his widow, four sons, Arthur, Edward and William, all of this city, and John, of Beloit, Wis., and one daughter, Mrs. Arthur Swartz, of Kenosha, 16 grandchildren and a brother, Caspar Bittorf, of Racine.
Funeral on Monday.
Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Dahl funeral home, the Rev. G.W. Genszler, pastor of Holy Communion church, officiating. Burial will be in Mound cemetery.
The body may be viewed at Dahl's Sunday afternoon and evening.
Contributor:
L. Dickerson
John Bittorf, 74, a resident of Racine since 1871, died at the family home early this morning after a long illness. He was born in Germany and came to America with his parents the late Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Bittorf, when an infant. They made their home in Chicago until the fire of 1871, when their home and belongings burned and they moved to Racine. For several years he sailed the Great Lakes and then entered the first life saving station established here. For 10 years he was a bridge tender, and another 10 years were spent on the crew of the U.S. Life Saving service. Surviving are his wife, four sons, Arthur, Edward and William in Racine, and John in Beloit, one daughter, Mrs. Arthur Swartz of Kenosha, 16 grandchildren, and one brother, Casper Bittorf of this city. The body may be viewed at the Dahl Funeral home Sunday afternoon and evening, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday. Rev. G.W. Genszler will officiate with burial in Mound cemetery.
John Bittorf, above, a resident of the city for 60 years, who gave up the life of a sailor to aid mariners in distress, is dead.
DEATH SUMMONS JOHN BITTORF, 74
Eventful Life Ended After Long Illness; Burial on Monday.
John Bittorf, aged 74, who died early this morning at his residence, 1712 North Wisconsin street, following a long illness, had an eventful life. He was born in Germany, but when he was still an infant his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Bittorf, brought him to the city of Chicago, where they lived until the big fire in 1871. Their little home was one of the many hundred buildings destroyed in that conflagration and their loss resulted in removal to this city.
After completing his education here, he satisfied his longing for a life of exciting interest by shipping aboard a lake schooner. He, like other boys living near the lake front, had mingled with the lake sailors at a time when dozens of the craft lined the local docks at all times during the summer, and became imbued with the spirit of a mariner. He followed the lakes for a number of years and when the federal government established the coast guard station here, he enlisted and served as a member of the first crew for ten years.
Coast Guard Many Years.
Life as a coast guardsman brought him into dangerous positions, there being numerous wrecks in this area at that time on account of the large number of sailing craft that dotted the lake. He took part in many daring rescues and spent many hours out on the storm-tossed lake working with sailors to save their craft or to transfer them to their boat from sinking vessels.
After leaving the service of the government he entered that of the city of Racine. He was appointed a bridgetender, in which position he served for ten years or more.
Surviving are his widow, four sons, Arthur, Edward and William, all of this city, and John, of Beloit, Wis., and one daughter, Mrs. Arthur Swartz, of Kenosha, 16 grandchildren and a brother, Caspar Bittorf, of Racine.
Funeral on Monday.
Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Dahl funeral home, the Rev. G.W. Genszler, pastor of Holy Communion church, officiating. Burial will be in Mound cemetery.
The body may be viewed at Dahl's Sunday afternoon and evening.
Contributor:
L. Dickerson
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