Oak Lawn resident Michael Witt, who served 25 years with the Illinois State Police, will be laid to rest Wednesday.
Lorraine Swanson, Patch Staff
Posted Tue, Apr 5, 2022, at 8:48 pm CT|Updated Wed, Apr 6, 2022, at 8:35 am CTReplies (5)
OAK LAWN, IL — A former Illinois State Trooper, who was paralyzed from the neck down in an off-duty accident in 2020, has died. Michael Witt, 48, had been living at a rehabilitation facility in Chicago, where he was receiving extensive nursing care and physical therapy at the time of his death on March 27.
Witt was born Feb. 2, 1974, in Evergreen Park to Michael and Lorelei Witt, and was the youngest of their nine children. He was a graduate of Richards High School, where his wife, Megan, is currently a teacher. After graduating from high school, Witt attended Western Illinois University, and later, was a graduate of Illinois State Police cadet class 94.
He began his career with the Illinois State Police in March 1997, when he was assigned to District Chicago. During his 25-year career, Witt rose through the ranks, becoming a trusted asset for ISP, serving as a special agent, a sergeant, and a master sergeant in the ISP Division of Internal Investigations.
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Witt went on to earn a promotion to lieutenant for District Chicago Operations. Most recently, he served as captain for the Division of Criminal Investigations before being promoted to major and taking the position of Northern Illinois Investigative Commander.
Witt was a hockey, baseball, and softball dad, enthusiastically volunteering for the St. Jude Hockey Club and as a softball coach for Oak Lawn Baseball and Softball. He was his three children’s biggest fans, son Thomas, and twin daughters, Abigail and Lucy.
In August 2020, Witt suffered an off-duty diving accident that left him a quadriplegic. Since his injury, Witt had been living in a rehabilitation hospital in Chicago. Family and friends started a GoFundMe campaign to help the family with Witt’s staggering medical costs.
They were in the midst of organizing a fundraiser,“A Mission For Mike” set for 2 to 6 p.m. May 7 at 115 Bourbon Street, 3359 W. 115th St., where a portion of funds was to have gone toward retrofitting the family’s home, so Witt could continue receiving medical care at home.
The fundraiser, now renamed “A Tribute To Mike,” will go on, with funds raised to pay for Witt’s medical costs and his children’s education. Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door, and include a buffet, beer, wine, and pop, along with raffles. Entertainment features Five Guys Named Moe and the St. Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. Purchase tickets in advance on Eventbrite.
Anyone who would like to support “A Tribute To Mike” can donate raffle items, gift baskets, monetary gifts, stays at vacation homes, and other items. Please feel free to reach out to Lisa Krueger, Lisa.krueger@chsd218.org
Witt leaves his wife, Megan, his three children, Thomas, Abigail, and Lucy; his parents Michael and Lorelei Witt; his brothers and sisters, Michelle Moore, Deborah (Tom) Morowczynski, Marjorie (Andrew) Sullivan, James Witt, Patrick Witt, Kathryn Witt, Timothy Witt, and Jennifer (James) Zielke, 23 nieces and nephews, along with nine great-nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 6, at St. Linus Catholic Church, 10300 S. Lawler Avenue, Oak Lawn, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment to immediately follow at St. Casimir Catholic Cemetery, Chicago.