PHILLIP STEPHEN WITEKA, age 69 of Gainesville, FL passed away on Sunday September 16, 2018. Phil was born in St. Louis, MO on June 18, 1949.
Phil was raised in Palatka, FL. He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in 1972. He received his Juris Doctorate from Cumberland School of Law at Sanford University in 1978, where he was a member of The International Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi. He served as an Assistant District Attorney with the 23rd Judicial Court in Birmingham, Alabama. He moved back to Gainesville in the early 1980’s working with a law firm until establishing his own private practice, The Law Office of Phil Witeka. Phil was an avid Gators Fan and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and reading. He enjoyed his last Florida Gator football game on tv with family, and they won!
He was preceded in death by his father Bertram Bekemeyer, a brother Jimmy Bekemeyer and a son William Womble. He is survived by his loving wife Robin Witeka, sons Kevin (Tori) Dennison, and Johnny Womble, his mother Irene Bekemeyer, sisters Carmen (Willie) Blocker and Karen (Doug) Crede, seven grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Phil was a friend to many, and there are many whom he considered family. One of his nieces said it best, “he didn’t know blood (relatives by blood), family was family.”
There are many recipients of his love and friendship. His willingness to help people any way he could will surely be missed by his friends and family. Phil truly leaves a void in our lives we can only fill with memories and appreciation of having the privilege of knowing him. We would like to thank his medical team, caretakers, and friends that were there to assist during his illness.
