Byron Witt

TOLEDO-Byron John Witt, 78, of Toledo, passed away Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at his home in Toledo under the care of UnityPoint Hospice-Grinnell. Funeral Services will be held Monday, September 15, 2025 at 10:30 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama with Pastor Warren Riley officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama. Visitation will be held Sunday, September 14, 2025, from 4-7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.

Byron was born on May 31, 1947, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Clarence and Selma (Rieck) Witt.

In 1965, he graduated from Belle Plaine High School, where he was active in FFA and got into sheep breeding. Byron graduated from Iowa State University in 1969.

On March 1, 1969, he was united in marriage to Jill Harmon in Ankeny, Iowa. Byron started his career at Farmers Home Administration with USDA in Ankeny and then in Newton doing security checks on cattle. He moved to Tama County and was a USDA Supervisor and then became an Appraiser and Realtor.

Byron was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama, and was formerly in Toastmasters. He was lucky enough not to get drafted in Vietnam but was active in Sons of the American Legion where he was in the Military Honors Group. Byron was formerly active in the Chamber of Commerce and was on the Tama City Counsel when the dike was built. He was a former Tama Citizen of the Year and an active volunteer for many things including Meals on Wheels and lately the Toledo Stoplight Festival.

Byron’s karaoke performances were well known. He liked to play pool and could hold his own. As a former introvert, he was proud of the fact he overcame some of that and would seek out those types in a group and make them feel comfortable and encourage them. This also allowed him to do counseling during the Farm Crisis.

Survivors include his wife, Jill of Toledo; his sons, Jerry (Danielle) Witt of Tama, and John Witt of Gilman; grandchildren, Jake, Logan, and Mason Witt, Noah and Ever Witt, Ethan Witt and Kaitlyn Engstrom; four great grandchildren; twin sisters, Janice (John) Millett of Cedar Rapids, and Joyce (Dennis) Christensen of Anamosa; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; and son, Kevin Witt.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Byron’s mother.