Marlin Ray Wittwer

MARLIN RAY WITTWER Memorial services for longtime Cortez resident Marlin Ray Wittwer will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 10 at Cortez Elks Lodge. Military honors will be provided by Montezuma County VFW Post #5231. Marlin was born August 21, 1948 in Boulder the son of Chester Ely and Flora Adeline (Roberts) Wittwer. He passed away at his home on Thursday, September 5, 2013 at the age of 65. Surviving Marlin are his wife, Denise Wittwer of Cortez; father, Chester Wittwer of Durango; sons, Gary Wittwer and wife, Jodi of Grand Junction and Ken Wittwer and wife, Michele of Thornton; grandchildren, Braeden Bennett, Austin Wittwer, Kyler Wittwer, Karstyn Wittwer and Brylee Wittwer; and siblings, Barbara Hopper of Virginia and Ron Wittwer of Durango. He was preceded in death by his mother, Flora Wittwer. Marlin was a man that made a stranger feel welcome, a man that was honest, caring, loving, and lived his life with honor and respect. Most of you knew Marlin well. We knew him as "Pops". His career and family was very important to him. He also knew what he wanted out of life. We believe that if his grass was green, mowed, trimmed, and enough time left in the day for 18, then he was at peace. In a moment of true, wonderful irony, though, Marlin's passing was happening during the Broncos game. We'd like to think that if there is an afterlife, he was standing on the field in Broncos stadium during the second half helping Peyton Manning lead the team to victory. So, as we say goodbye and say all the things we love so much about him, we just want you to imagine that laugh and smile of his and picture him hitting his driver on the 18th tee. Marlin was a man who did not accept his own greatness. Even as he was fighting against cancer with more strength and courage and honesty than any can imagine, he never complained, NOT ONCE!! This man who was expending such energy and will and strength to fight for more time still talked about the things he didn't do. He never quite accepted his own greatness, all he had done, all the lives he profoundly changed, loans for vehicles, businesses, and vacations that he helped many families attain. Marlin started in the banking field at Beneficial Finance in Durango, in 1974. Shortly after, he was transferred to Cortez were he would live the rest of life. He extended his love for banking, working for Citizens State Bank for almost 28 years. He muddled in car sales and financing for new cars at Steve Keetch Motors, however ended up going back to work for Dolores State Bank for almost 7 years before retiring. There are many who have great memories of Marlin working at these places. Marlin was a wonderful man. He was a father, husband, brother, grandfather, and friend to many people. To his sons he was more than just a father, he was a friend and a hero. "Pops" as we like to call him, worked very hard and was very focused on any endeavor he was involved in. Whether it was trying to help someone out with a car loan, help with many local organizations that he was part of, or come home and deal with two sons that, shall we say, were trying at times. He was honest and always kept his word. As a husband he devoted his life and love to Denise Wittwer. They were married Oct. 18, 1970 and were coming up on forty three years of marriage. Marlin was a dedicated husband and always knew the unconditional love that was shared between the two of them. Whether it was spending too much time watering and messing with the yard, playing too many rounds of golf, or being with his friends, the two of them taught their boys the true meaning of the word "MARRIAGE". He loved his bride very much and had many adventurous journeys together. They loved to travel together and were looking forward in traveling more upon Marlin's retirement. He loved doing things with and for her. Marlin enjoyed many other things in life other than golfing. He was able to pass that passion for the outdoors down to his boys, teaching them to shoot, hunt, fish, ride motorcycles, and play all kinds of sports. He knew the meaning of working hard to achieve a higher goal. He was never sick, or even played sick just to take the time off work. He got up every single day no matter what he was in store for and did the job that he asked and loved to do. Marlin has five grandchildren that he was passing on the lessons of life that his sons had learned. Once again he was honest and caring, but was always willing to let them make their own mistakes. Papa or Pops to the grandkids, loved going to races, basketball games, gymnastic meets, school programs, or taking them shooting, hunting, or fishing. He never missed an event that he was able to attend. During his boys childhood, Ken and Gary would ask Pops for a dollar whenever they were out and about places. Pops response no matter where, when, or what they were doing was always the same. He would pull out his wallet and look into it and say "this is my last dollar". Now growing up Ken and Gary knew he worked at a Bank and figuredheck go get another oneBut as they grew up they came to understand what he was doing. Funny thing is Marlin would want that dollar back and with interest. Memorial contributions can be made to Cortez Kiwanis Scholarship Fund and Cortez Elks Scholarship Fund.