Clarence Dittmar Obituary
Clarence Harry Dittmar of Menomonee Falls, WI died peacefully at home on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at age 92. He was the only child of Clarence E. Dittmar and Adela Kruepke of Milwaukee, WI, and the only nephew of Harry H. Kruepke. He is survived by his son Kevin S. Dittmar, his daughter Jane M. Dittmar, son-in-law Joseph S. Stanjones III LTC U.S. Army, Ret., former wife Mary Mohrhusen Dittmar, sister-in-law Bonnie Mohrhusen, granddaughter Lauren Isabelle Hazelett, and step-granddaughter Alexandria R. Stanjones. Preceded in death by former wife Joan Lake.
Clarence was a 1948 graduate of Rufus King High School, and served in the U.S. Army at the Pentagon from 1951-53. He co-founded Dittmar Realty, Inc. in 1959, with the support and encouragement of his father-in-law Clarence A. Mohrhusen. Likewise, he considered it a privilege to offer sage advice and support to others getting their start in the world, or assistance to those just needing a little extra help. He chose Menomonee Falls as the community he wanted to live in, support, and shape for a strong future. As a builder and real estate developer, he created many options for quality living at all income levels in the Falls and surrounding areas, from single family homes, to subdivisions and apartment communities. A community within a community he developed in 1970, Green Valley Mobile Home park in Jackson, WI was always close to his heart.
He served as President of the Metropolitan Builders Association (MBA) in 1966, was voted 1968 MBA Builder of the Year, and was awarded Lifetime Directorship in the National Association of Home Builders in 1973. He sought to set the standard he and others would need to follow as the 25-year Chairman of the Menomonee Falls Architectural Control Committee, as part of his 34 years of service to the Village to ensure well-executed growth and enduring design. His service and leadership was honored in 1980 by the Menomonee Falls Chamber of Commerce, and a joint resolution by the Wisconsin State Legislature, but he continued to actively serve in that capacity until 1997.
Clarence was a driving member of the 1971 inaugural Lombardi Golf Classic, held to honor the greatest coach of the Green Bay Packers and to help fund cancer research in his name. Clarence served as the President of North Hills Country club from 1971-72 and as the Lombardi Classic tournament director in 1982-83. During those and continuing years, these events raised millions of dollars to fund innovative research for all types of adult and pediatric cancer.
Clarence served on the boards of Heritage Bank, Farmers and Merchants Bank, and associated Bank. He served on the Board of Directors of Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls from 1973-2015, 18 of those years as the Chairman of the Board. From 2000-2010, he was instrumental in the formation of the organization and governance that ultimately became Froedtert Health. In 2015, Froedtert Health dedicated its executive meeting area to him as the Clarence H. Dittmar Board Room.
While visionary leadership and community service marked many chapters of his life, his greatest contributions reflected a tenacious desire to leave the world better than he found it, often through acts of kindness and private generosity.
Clarence was preceded in death by many of his closest friends, but his kind spirit continued to cultivate new friendships. He had a remarkable circle of friends and caregivers who made the last years in his home especially enjoyable, to include Georgette Schuppe and Debbie Drozeur; also Linda, Grace, Mary Lynn, Kristine, and Jennifer; and long time friend, Anne Marie Suchocki.
Visitation will be at Schmidt & Bartelt in Menomonee Falls, WI on Wednesday October 12, 2022 from 11am - 1pm, with remembrances at 1pm, followed by military honors. Private internment to follow at Wisconsin Memorial Park. Clarence requested that charitable donations be made to the Community Memorial/Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital Foundation, to further advances in community health care. Grass-roots giving of any sort to help the less fortunate, however, would have also made him smile.
