A representative of the American Red Cross during World War II, Roberta Louis Witkowski’s photograph appeared in the agency’s blood drive ads during those turbulent years. Mrs. Witkowski, 85, died of heart failure in her Antioch home Sunday, Aug. 8. Mrs. Witkowski was a volunteer nurse at Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital for more than 20 years. “She was a mom’s mom,” her son Leon Jr. said. “And by that I mean she took care of her boys.” Mrs. Witkowski enjoyed spending time with her sons and husband, especially during the family’s 4th of July celebrations where fireworks were plentiful, her son said. Mrs. Witkowski was born in Marseilles, Ill., and graduated from Marseilles High School in the mid-1930s. She attended St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Chicago and graduated in 1936. There, she also met her future husband, Leon Witkowski, who was a resident at St. Luke’s. In 1942, they got married in Chicago. While her husband served during WWII, Mrs. Witkowski worked as a flight attendant for United Airlines and a representative of the American Red Cross. Other survivors include another son, Robert, and six grandchildren. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Strang Funeral Home, 1055 Main St., in Antioch. Services will follow at 11 a.m.
