In Memory of LaVerne Albers Wittock

James A. Wittock died on October 26, 2017, in Clearwater, Florida. Jim was born and raised in Iron Mountain, Michigan. He was in the Army Air Corps from 1944-45 and subsequently attended Michigan Tech University in Houghton, earning a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree. He and brother Jack owned Wittock Supply Company, which still exists today. He married LaVerne Albers in 1951 and they had five children. Laverne passed away in 1997 in Palm Harbor, Florida. In 2001, Jim married Pat Bryant of Clearwater, Florida, where Pat still resides.

Jim was a family man above all. He was an active volunteer and member of the Kiwanis Club in Iron Mountain, as well as serving on the County Commission after moving to Marquette. He loved bridge and poker, and held master points in ACBL bridge. He was a kind, loving, and gentle man who loved his entire family all through his life.

LaVerne Albers Wittock died on May 18, 1997. She was born and raised in Missouri, and lost her father, Arthur Albers, to kidney disease when she was just two years old. She was devoted to and cared for her mother in her time of need. LaVerne met her future husband, James, while working for the Grinnell Company in St. Louis. Shortly after, they married and moved to Iron Mountain, Michigan. LaVerne fit right in to the small town atmosphere and enjoyed being a homemaker. She made a loving and happy home for her husband and five children. Her family eventually expanded to include six grandchildren – more people to love and dote on! LaVerne never complained while coping with dialysis and two kidney transplants. She was determined to see all six grandkids safely and lovingly into young adulthood. LaVerne was beautiful both inside and out.

LaVerne and Jim had great senses of humor and always had a joke or story to tell. One story Jim loved to tell was that when they quit their jobs at Grinnell to marry and move to Michigan, the owner didn’t care that he was leaving, but cried his eyes out over losing LaVerne.

The Wittock children were compelled to establish this tribute for their mother because individuals with kidney disease all over the world benefit from Northwest Kidney Centers’ research and patient care strategies.