Leonard Alvin Witte

Born in 1950 to Louise and Alvin Witte in Indianapolis, Indiana, Leonard Witte grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, playing in alleys with his brother Richard, and staying out of trouble as his dad Alvin was an Oak Park police officer.

Len spent summers in his youth at “Windswept,” his paternal grandparents’ Lake Michigan house in Bridgeman, Michigan, where he created lifelong memories on the shore with his family, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Quitting trumpet to play high school basketball at Oak Park River Forest High School, his career was cut short before it started by a broken arm. Still, he secured a role in the low-budget student film “The Day the School Stood Still,” with a core group of friends.

Following graduation from OPRF, Len went to college at Adrian College in Michigan, where he met Marta Hilbert in philosophy class, with early dates at the Pizza Bucket, before they married in 1975. After moving to Wheaton, Illinois, Len and Marta welcomed Emily and Grant. As a family, they continued to enjoy Lake Michigan visits, regular family road trips to Bryan, Ohio and the Rocky Mountain National Park, summer games at Wrigley Field, watching ‘some idiot’ burn a hole in the Gremlins 2 film at the Cascade Drive-In, and much more. Len would also look forward to traveling to Texas in Septembers for dove hunts with his brother Richard and his nephews. While in Wheaton, Len was an active member of Gary United Methodist Church, where he was a volunteer, Cub Scouts, a treasurer, and a long-time usher.

Len obtained his masters’ degree from Michigan State University. Len worked in security, with early roles such as holding down the overnight shift at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home & Studio in Oak Park before starting his career at the Northern Trust Bank, two weeks after he and Marta married. There, Len rose through the security ranks from 1975 until his retirement in 2010 after 34 years with the Bank, retiring as VP & Security Officer. During his time with the Bank, he saw the introduction of ATMs, electronic banking, and participated in many citywide security matters such as the DNC, World Cup, and a Batman movie. He also traveled internationally, with work trips to Ireland, England, and an actual around the world trip in 2007 (with stops in Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong, Bangalore, and London).

After his retirement, Len stayed active in many ways. Len and Marta bought a lake cottage in Michiana Shores, Indiana, where they created new memories with family members, old and new. He went to Chicago Blackhawks games as a season ticket holder for many seasons, watching three Stanley Cup championship runs. He also continued to keep in touch with his former Northern Trust colleagues through regular poker nights. All the while, Len continued to help others through regular blood donations, donating many gallons of blood over decades of donation visits.

Len passed away peacefully at home on July 21, 2026. He was loved and will be remembered fondly by his wife of 51 years, Marta, his daughter Emily (Dan), his son Grant, his brother Richard (Jeanne), grandchildren (Laurel and Leo), extended family, and his many friends.