STEWARD — Robert Erwin Mittan, 76, of Steward, died Sunday, March 3, 2019 at Heritage Health in Mendota.

He was born Feb. 23, 1943 in Aurora, the son of Erwin and Berneice (Swift) Mittan. A 1961 graduate of Shabbona High School, Robert served in the United States Air Force for four years in Viet Nam. 

He has been married to Nancy (Voss) Mittan for 48 years. 

Robert was employed by the telephone company for 30 years, retiring from Verizon. He built a LAN High Speed Data Network from the ground up for the phone company. 

His passion was singing at church, for weddings, funerals and in chorale groups. He loved sharpening knives and loved guns. He was a member of the Steward United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy, of Steward; a son, Christian Mittan, of Mendota; a grandson, Chaz Evans of Tennessee; and a sister, Karen (Albert) Blaser, of Sycamore.

He was a special dad to Jeremiah Schultz and is also survived by nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday morning, March 8, at the Steward United Methodist Church with Reverend Megan Thompson officiating. Burial will be in Wyoming Cemetery in Paw Paw. 

Friends may call from 10 a.m. Friday morning until the time of services at the church.

Robert’s family would like to extend a special thanks to everyone at Shabbona Healthcare Center, OSF Hospice of Ottawa, Heritage Health in Mendota, and Dr. Scholl and staff for their excellent care of Robert during his illness.

A memorial has been established for the Steward United Methodist Church.

Arrangements were completed by Jacobson Funeral Home in Shabbona.