Rudolph “Rudy” Bittner, 95, peacefully passed away on June 5 at The Lutheran Home in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 13, 1929, Rudy was a devoted son to Lottie and Bruno Bittner and loving husband for 74 years to his college sweetheart, JoAnn Davis Gilbert. Survived by his wife, he was also a wonderful father to five children, Richard “Rick” Bittner (Millie); Charlotte Castleberry (Guy); Sandra Ehmer (Ron); Elisa Larsen (Dave); and Jennifer Snead. As well as, eight grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.
Rudy attended Davidson Elementary School (Lake Como/Springfield), graduated from Lake Geneva High School and attended Carthage College. Rudy was a Master Baker who worked side-by-side with his father to establish and grow Bittner’s Bakery; an icon on Main Street in Lake Geneva for over 50 years. He took over ownership of the bakery in the mid-1960s and baked and decorated hundreds of beautiful wedding cakes for brides throughout Wisconsin. He worked many long hours to provide the retail bakery and area restaurants with pastries, breads and desserts. He created several unique cakes during his career, with one of his biggest challenges being a scale model of Hugh Hefner’s famous Playboy jet that had an eight foot wingspan.
Later in life, Rudy was also in the real estate business as co-owner of a Wausau Homes franchise for Southern Wisconsin. He was a local realtor and commercial property investor.
Rudy loved Lake Geneva and served on several community initiatives, including the Blue Ribbon initiative resulting in the successful beautification of downtown Lake Geneva. He also enjoyed the sunshine of his “second home” located in Tavares, Florida, where he and JoAnn resided for 23 years later in life. There he was awarded one of Kiwanis’ International’s highest awards, the Hixson, for his volunteer work in the local elementary schools.
In addition to his lifelong passion for baking, Rudy loved his church homes – First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lake Geneva where he was a dedicated member for 50 years, sang in the choir and also served on the church’s school board. In Florida, he attended St. Mark’s Lutheran Church of Leesburg and also sang in the choir. Rudy had a green thumb and loved gardening, especially growing roses.
Rudy’s legacy is one of hard work and a man devoted to his wife and children with a generous heart and great love for the Lord.
A private family memorial service will take place at Lazarczyk Funeral Home in Lake Geneva in the coming days.
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