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To know the oldest members of our society is a privilege and a delight. Therefore, we would like to introduce Dr. Jack Dittmer, Pines Village resident since 2002. |
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 Dr. Jack Dittmer was born August 28, 1911, in Chicago, Illinois and is the oldest of three children. When his father finished medical school, the family moved to Kouts, Indiana, where his father began practicing medicine.
Shortly thereafter, his father was called to duty during World War I for the U.S. Army and sent to Camp Greenleaf, Georgia. Dr. Jack can remember traveling with his mother and siblings to relocate close to him in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They lived together in a single room operated by the Red Cross and on weekends his father would visit them. After the war, the family moved back to Kouts, Indiana.
Upon graduating from high school, Dr. Jack enrolled at Indiana University located in Bloomington, Indiana. Six years later he earned a bachelor of science degree and a medical degree. Dr. Jack spent the next two years completing additional training in residency programs before starting his own medical practice in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Then like his father, Dr. Jack was called to duty. Now it was World War II and he would serve as a Major in the U.S. Army. He served for five years and spent time stationed throughout the Midwest and England.
After the war, Dr. Jack attended the University of Pennsylvania and spent one more year studying surgery. He finally returned to Valparaiso, Indiana and once again opened his own medical practice. Several years later, his brother, Thomas, joined him.
Not only was Dr. Jack known in the community for his talents as a doctor, he was known for wearing colorful bow ties. "In the office, the children would pull on my long ties and they would get in my way, so I started wearing bow ties." Over the years, he has collected more than 500 ties, which hang in his apartment today.
Although Dr. Jack is 90+, he continues his tradition of learning. Everyday he stays current in world events by voraciously reading four newspapers while listening to classical music and of course wearing his trademark bow tie. His active and intelligent approach to life has kept him young in spirit and alert to all that life has to offer.
That's why he agreed to be featured in our book, We Celebrate Life.
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