Marlin M. Mittag

Marlin M. Mittag died on December 22, 2024 in his Aurora home surrounded by his wife Pauline (Polly) of 58 years and their three boys. He was 88 years old. Marlin was able to spend his last months of life at home viewing his lovingly tended backyard garden because of home hospice care managing dementia and Parkinson’s disease. A graduate of MacAlester College, Marlin taught German language in Wausau, WI before being drafted into the Army. In 1960, he received an early honorable discharge in order to teach German language at East Aurora High School, where he taught German and United States History, led the German Language club, and taught for 35 years. He earned his M.A. in German from the University of Colorado in 1966. He met his wife Pauline (Corbin) Mittag in Aurora and married in 1966. They made their home on the near west side of Aurora and raised their family of three boys: Mark (Colleen), Matthew, and Daniel (Valerie). In Aurora Marlin served for 15 years on the Aurora Block Grant Working Committee, a committee that makes grant investment decisions to improve Aurora’s neighborhoods. After retirement, he continued to serve the community through Kiwanis. He also was active in the Christian faith, first at Grace Lutheran Church and more recently at the bilingual New Hope Lutheran Church meeting at St. David’s Episcopal in Aurora. Marlin enjoyed a good book, classical music, playing violin, family camping trips, nurturing his vegetable garden, and sharing his good sense of humor. He encouraged his boys in sports, music, scouting, and in their aspirations. He and his family volunteered for more than 20 Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center (LOMC) Memorial Day Work Weekends to prepare the camp for summer outdoor youth programs. He made all feel welcomed in the Mittag home and community through holiday dinner invitations, volunteering to make and serve meals at Hesed House, and being a refugee family immigration sponsor. Marlin was born in Fort Atkinson, WI to Chester and Elsie Mittag and was the oldest of six children. As a young boy, the nickname “Butch” stuck, and he went by “Butch” within his immediate family circle the rest of his days. He was preceded in death by his parents, his uncle Harold Mittag who inspired Marlin in music and German language; his sister Kathryne (Clark Wangerin) of Brookfield, WI, his sister Marika formerly of Fort Atkinson, and his brother Mark (Joan) of Fort Atkinson. He is survived by his brother Daniel (Karen Mittag) of Fall Creek, I and Christine (Teen) Shrank (John) of Reedsburg, WI, as well as his children, five grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. The Mittag family thanks the many family and friends who called, sent letters, and came to visit Marlin during his hospice care. The family thanks the caregivers from Brightstar Health Care who helped the family have Marlin be at home on hospice care and to manage Marlin’s dementia and Parkinson’s, as well as to the caring staff at Suncrest Hospice who served Marlin at his home. Memorial visitation will be held Friday, January 3, 2025 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at THE DALEIDEN MORTUARY, 220 North Lake Street Aurora, IL 60506, 630-631-5500. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Aurora, and the remains will be buried at Riverside Cemetery. Please visit our interactive website at www.daleidenmortuary.com to leave condolences for Marlin’s family or sign the guest book. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Aurora’s Hesed House (www.hesedhouse.org) or the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center in Oregon, IL (lomc.org).