Lengerich officials pay tribute to Wittwer
The WDN received the following, asking that it be published: On behalf of the Sister Cities Association of Lengerich, Germany, Wapakoneta's sister city, and the mayor of Lengerich, Wilhelm Möhrke I would like to submit an obituary for the recently deceased Donald Wittwer, a long- time mayor of Wapakoneta and for over 27 years a dedicated initiator and supporter of the sister cities movement. This unique personality is greatly missed, and the passing of Donald Wittwer marks the end of an era in our sister cities partnership.
With great grief and sadness we have to acknowledge that a great Wapakoneta citizen, Donald R. Wittwer, councilman for 17 years and mayor of Wapakoneta for 16 years ( 1991 –
2007) passed away on January 2, 2021, at the age of 90.
He was the true founder, forger, and the driving force of the Sister Cities Partnership between Wapakoneta/ OH and Lengerich/ Germany in 1994.
Don Wittwer welcomed the citizens of Lengerich with open arms and a friendly heart, calling them friends even though they met for the first time. After the official sealing of the partnership by signing the documents by representatives from Lengerich and Wapakoneta in 1994, he never grew tired of supporting the citizen diplomacy under the umbrella of the Sister Cities International. His prime goal was to connect people regardless their national or cultural background, to enable a deeper understanding of each other, to dissolve prejudiced thinking and to develop new ways of human connectedness and cooperation. Numerous exchange visits of adults and students are the result of his dedication. His motto was “It is governments that make wars, not people”.
The City Administration of
Lengerich and the Sister Cities Association of Lengerich mourn the passing of Donald Wittwer honoring his unrelenting commitment to our partnership and his deep humanity. We have lost a friend with an open heart and mind who will live on in our memory forever.
Our thoughts are also with his extended family in whom he took so much pride.
Forever in our hearts, Wilhelm Möhrke, Mayor of Lengerich Ursula Hohmann- Assig, President of the
Sister Cities Association of Lengerich