Herbert Phillip Dittmann Jr.

Herbert (Herb) Phillip Dittmann Jr. , age 79, died November 22, 2010 at St Mary's Care Center in Madison after battling acute leukemia. Herb was born on December 19, 1930 in Beloit, Wisconsin to Herbert P Dittmann Sr. and Loretto (Seymour) Dittmann.   Herb spent most of his early life in Wisconsin Rapids until he moved to West Bend during his senior year in High School.     After Herb graduated from West Bend High School in 1948 he attended St. Norbert's College in De Pere, Wisconsin.   He enlisted in the Air Force in 1950 for four memorable years during the days of the Korean Conflict.   After returning to Wisconsin in late 1954, Herb enrolled at the UW-Madison in January 1955 majoring in Communications and Economics.   Upon graduating he attended law school at UW-Madison.   On September 1st 1956 he married Dorothy Lang from West Bend.   Herb spent 42 years in the Insurance industry.    Herb began in the insurance business part-time during law school as a claims adjuster.   He later joined Hardware Mutual's (now Sentry) management program in their Appleton office.   After obtaining management experience he returned to Sentry's Madison office as an Executive Accounts Manager.   Following this assignment he assumed a sales territory and twice received the Distinguished Salesman Award of the Sales and Marketing Executives Association of Madison.   In 1970 Herb joined the Neckerman Insurance Agency, long a Madison institution since 1914, where he spent the remaining 30 years of his career until his retirement in 2000. Herb served many roles during his 13 years on the board of the Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin (IIAW) including its President.   Herb later served two three-year terms on the National Board of Independent Insurance Agents.   He was honoured with the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award for IIAW. Herb participated extensively in the Madison community as a long-time member of the Downtown Rotary, Chairman of the Insurance section of the United Way, President of his neighbourhood association, President of St James athletic association, member of the finance council at St. Josephs Catholic Church, Co-Chair of Edgefest (an annual fund raiser for Edgewood High School) and chairman of the Police and Fire Commission for the Town of Madison.   Herb was a member of Knights of Columbus, Nakoma Country Club, SCORE, RSVP, a regular commentator at St James and St Joseph's Church and current member of Queen of Peace Church. Herb's most notable association was his 58 years as a member of the Elks Club and later the Exalted Ruler of the Elks Club in 1972-1973.   During his tenure as President, Herb and his board pushed for the Elks Club National committee to accept all races into the Elks association which was accomplished.   Herb is survived by his wife Dottie, four sons Doug (Kathy), Herbert ""Trey"" P Dittmann III  (Rennie), Steve (Julie), Paul (Deborah), 8 granddaughters and 1 grandson, brother-in-law Larry Lang and his wife Helen and sister-in-law Sally Dittmann, and numerous nieces and nephews.   He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers (Seymour, Phil, Bill) and sister (Elaine). Herb was a kind, considerate, even-tempered man with a vibrant, outgoing personality.  Herb with Dottie enjoyed many travels together to Europe, Antarctica, South America, the Caribbean and Hawaii.   Herb especially enjoyed reading a good book, afternoons at his pool in Madison, sunsets in Marco Island Florida, a beer or martini with friends, a quick witted joke or a laugh with his kids, and a song or dance with his wife.   His gentle, encouraging spirit will be greatly missed. A Funeral Service will be held at 12 p.m. on Friday, November 26, 2010 at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Dr., with Msgr. Kenneth Fiedler officiating.  A visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. prior to the funeral on Friday at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CHURCH.   A reception will immediately follow the funeral in the gathering space at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to St. Mary's Care Center, Hospice Care, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Edgewood High School or the Leukaemia Foundation. The family extends their deep appreciation to all of the staff members of St. Marys Care Center and Hospice Care who gave such compassionate and professional care of Herb while he lived at St. Marys the past year.