Jonathan Alan Dittmar came into the world on May 19, 1951, and left on July 1, 2013, at the age of 62. He fought his three-year cancer battle valiantly and with grace. Even in the midst of the fight, he continued in his compassionate belief to assist those in need, including hurricane relief housing in Jamaica, food and water to the poor, local food banks, Children International, and a love for the St. Joseph Indian School, a school for at-risk Native American children.
Jonathan was most passionate about the environment and the preservation of the earth. He was a member of multiple conservation organizations, a man who “walked his talk.” His commitment to leave as small a footprint as possible was an inspiration to many and helped shape the focus in some of the younger generations following him. Jonathan was also deeply committed to the protection of endangered animals.
Jonathan was an outdoor enthusiast. Some of his finest experiences were in the great outdoors, surrounded by nature in all of its beauty. He had a beautiful appreciation for God’s creation and his understanding and love of nature in all of its forms has become a theme that runs deep in his family. He was also a talented musician, singing and playing instruments with his sister, Marcy, in his young adult years. Through his later years, he continued to embrace his love of bluegrass music.
Jonathan, known to many as “Alan,” was born in Lafayette, IN, and moved to the Fish Lake area of LaPorte County in 1951. Jonathan and his family moved to Galena Township in 1957, where he attended Galena School and Rolling Prairie High School and was in the first graduating class of New Prairie High School. He attended Purdue University, graduating in 1973 with a degree in Environmental Science. Jonathan returned to his early home in Fish Lake following his college education and spent much time rebuilding, remodeling and perfecting the family home of his childhood. Jonathan’s professional career concluded at Cardno JFNew, where he embraced his environmental passion.
Jonathan was a kind, caring and committed son, brother, husband, father and grandfather.
He is survived by his loving parents, Marshall and Margaret Dittmar of Galena Township; his adoring and devoted wife, Laurie Dittmar of Fish Lake; his surviving siblings, Marcy (Michael) Dailey of Rolling Prairie and Trudy (Bruce) Hardcastle of Stafford, VA; his children, Calleb (Stacey) Dittmar of New Carlisle, IN, Summer (Ryan) McDuffee of Bedford, IN, and Jasper and Wyatt Dittmar of Union Mills, IN, who will miss him dearly; two stepchildren, Nathan (Abbie) Velker of Kansas City and Betsy (Zachary) Roth of Grand Rapids, MI; and his grandchildren, Sophie and Garrett McDuffee, Noah Velker, and soon-to-arrive Piper Roth.
Visitation will be at Essling Funeral Home, LaPorte, on Friday, July 5, from 3 to 8 p.m. A service celebrating his life will be held at Lamb’s Chapel United Methodist Church, North Fail Road, LaPorte, on Saturday, July 6, at 1 p.m. with a graveside service to follow at Lamb’s Chapel Cemetery with Pastor Lynn Breeden officiating.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Food for the Poor, www.foodforthepoor.org or 6401 Lyons Rd., Coconut Creek, FL 333073; or St. Joseph’s Indian School, www.stjo.org or P.O. Box 300, Chamberlain, SD 57325.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.