William J. Howitt

William “Bill” J. Howitt

William James Howitt, age 92 of Randolph, died on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at Golden Living Center – Continental Manor in Randolph, surrounded by loved ones.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 5 at Randolph Evangelical Free Church, 702 N High St, Randolph with Pastor John G. Olson officiating. Inurnment will follow with military honors provided by Randolph VFW Post 9510.Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church, until the 11:00 time of service.

Memorials may be directed to the Randolph Evangelical Free Church in Bill’s name.

Bill was born on April 23, 1920 in the town of Fox Lake, a son of Charles and Mary (Grebe) Howitt, and spent 89 years in that home. He graduated from Randolph High School with the Class of 1937. In 1946, Bill entered into service with the U.S. Army Military Police and served in Germany with Counter Intelligence Corp. He returned to the family farm in Randolph where he continued to grow and sell Hybrid Seed Corn and Oats. Bill has philanthropically supported the Hutchinson Memorial Library of Randolph, The Randolph Agriculture and FFA Foundation and the Randolph Scholarship Foundation and has arranged for that support to continue. He enjoyed fishing and pheasant hunting. Bill was a member of the Randolph Evangelical Free Church.

Bill is survived by numerous cousins; Betty Ritz, Norman, OK, Annice (Eldon) Brossard, CA, Lode Cochrane, Oak Park Heights, MN, Andrew ( Betty Jo) Apzell, Elm Grove, WI, David (Kelly) Azpell, Battle Ground, IN, Arlene Eggleston, Highland Ranch, CO, Diane Blombach, Bonita Springs, FL, Pat (Bill) Swenson, Green Lake, WI, Mike (Sharon) Ritz, Germantown, TN, Bob (Barbara) Ritz, San Diego, CA, John (Lindy) Ritz, Norman, OK, Chuck (Laura) Cochrane, Roseville, MN, Sally Cochrane, Portland, OR, Dick (Kathy) Cochrane, Vadnais Heights, MN, Alison Cochrane, Maplewood, MN, Elizabeth Cochrane, St. Paul, MN, Tom (Barbara) Madland, San Francisco, CA, Kathy (Carl) Trakolfer, Bethel Park, PA, Sherry (Dean) Mielke, Appleton, WI, Lynn (Penny) Mielke, Two Harbors, MN, Mary Ann Shaw, St. Paul, MN. Bill is further survived by other relatives and friends including John (Elizabeth) Azpell, Nicolas Azpell, both of Milwaukee, WI, Don Verhage, Randolph, and Katy (Joseph) Schlidt, Elm Grove, WI.

He was preceeded in death by his parents and his sister, Marie Winzenried.