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Phyllis (Groteluschen) Witte was born on May 14, 1928, in Genoa, Nebraska, to Walter and Loretta Groteluschen.  She graduated from Genoa High School and soon moved to Syracuse with friends of her parents.  She worked for Dr. Dieter and Dr. Formanack in Syracuse.  After meeting Louis Witte, they were married at St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church (now the United Church of Christ) on June 19, 1949.  They were the proud parents of three daughters, Joan, Linda, and Carol.  They were lifelong Syracuse residents.  In December, 2023, Phyllis moved to the Good Samaritan Center in Osceola and appreciated the care, the people, the activities, and the fact her daughter Linda and family lived in Osceola as well.

Phyllis was a busy and devoted wife, mother, faithful member of the United Church of Christ, and friend to many.  She served on her church board for several years and was an active quilter, choir member, Sunday School teacher, and member of the Women's Fellowship group.  During the time their girls were growing up she was their Girl Scout leader.  She had quite a talent for sewing, and was known for making many nightgowns and infant sleepers.  She made delicious cinnamon pecan rolls, mouth-watering meringue pies and log cabin rolls at Christmas. She also made a wonderful potato salad that no one in the family has been able to replicate.   Family camping trips and vacations were important in the family.  These included tent camping trips to Colorado and California.  Later trips included memorable vacations to Europe, Germany, California, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, and Alaska.

Phyllis was an active community member, serving alongside her husband Lou on the Rescue Squad. She was always one to ride in the back of the squad with the patient.  She was also active in Germanfest.  In 2003 she and Lou served as Ambassadors for Germanfest.  Other organizations included the Laff-A-Lot extension club, an important and tireless volunteer at the Otoe County Museum of Memories, and a member of the Lions Club with Lou.  In addition to her community activities she went back to work in about 1963.  She began as a typesetter (before there were computers) at the Syracuse Journal Democrat and ended her career as a bookkeeper for Maverick Media.  She learned very early about em and en spaces and would measure to find how many inches of type she set.  She was also a fighter – a cancer survivor.  She successfully fought renal cell cancer which later metastasized to her lungs, and breast cancer. She proudly walked in the Relay for Life walks.

She was a special friend to many.  She and Lou enjoyed pinochle card parties monthly.   She enjoyed her flowers, reading, Free Cell and solitaire on the computer, and her daily video calls with her daughters. She was the family genealogist and wrote stories about her memories.  She could retell stories from her childhood and memories with friends and family.  Phyllis passed away on September 26.  The family would like to thank the Syracuse Area Health, the Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center in Osceola, and Osceola Good Samaritan Society for the loving care given to her.  Thanks also go out to her church, her long time friends, and family for their calls, visits, and prayers.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband Lou, her parents, two brothers (Wayne and Larry), a sister (Bonnie) and their spouses.  She is survived by daughters Joan (Warren) Anthony, Elkhorn, NE; Linda (Scott) Anderson, Osceola, NE; and Carol (Harlan) Maguire, Bellevue, NE; and grandchildren Jenny (Andy) Schlosser, Bill (Kelli) Anthony, Theresa Webster, Sarah (Joe) Baumert, Michelle (Derek) Brovont, and eleven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Arvel and his wife Carol, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visitation will be on Monday, September 30 at The Fusselman-Allen-Harvey Funeral Home in Syracuse, NE from 1:00-7:00.  The family will be present from 5:00-7:00.

The funeral will be on Tuesday, October 1 at St. John's United Church of Christ in Syracuse at 11:00. The service will be livestreamed on the St. John's Facebook page.  Lunch at the church will follow the service.  Private burial will precede the service.

Memorials can be made to St. John's United Church of Christ, the Syracuse Public Library, or the Otoe County Museum of Memories in Syracuse.

Funeral arrangements are made by Fusselman-Allen-Harvey Funeral Home in Syracuse, NE.

Condolences to www.fusselmanallenharvey.com