Leo E. Dittman, 96, former Woodstock fire chief and a longtime plumbing and heating contractor, died Tuesday, March 14, in Centegra Memorial Medical
Center, Woodstock. Mr. Dittman died of complications after fracturing his hip in a fall. Born in Wheatfield, Ind., Mr. Dittman lived most of his life in Woodstock, where he met and married LeVerne C. Lehman in 1926. After working for several local plumbers, Mr. Dittman established his own business in 1934, said his daughter Mary Lee Klabunde. “He was a very good father and a very good provider,” his daughter said. “He was still running the office and running the business on the day he fell,” said his son, Bill, who retired from the family business last year. “He always had to be doing something. He was a good man to work with.” Other survivors include two more daughters, Nancy Bastien and Patricia Riley; 18 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Schneider-Leucht-Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, 1211 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock. Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Friday in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 312 Lincoln Ave., Woodstock.
