Gerald H. Wit

Gerald Henry Wit, age 87, a resident of Windsor Park in Carol Stream, passed away on June 22, 2026. He was born on January 26,1939 in Chicago, Illinois to Gerrit and Rena Wit. Jerry grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago. Faith, church, service, and a love for music were a significant part of his family life. Jerry graduated from Chicago Christian High School and moved to Wheaton, Illinois to attend Wheaton College where he majored in business administration. He was a member of the choir and the ROTC program during his college years.

Jerry met Ruth Van Treuren as a Wheaton student when he was assigned to be her math tutor just a few weeks after she started nursing school in Oak Park. During their 64 years together they built a family, enjoyed many music concerts, attended hundreds of sporting events for their kids and grandkids, served at College Church in Wheaton and enjoyed their family and friends. Ruth and Jerry loved to travel, and the family has often said he almost enjoyed planning these trips even more than the traveling.

After a short stint in the Army following college, Jerry spent the first 20 years of his career at Marshall Fields where he was an international buyer for the toy division and later managed several departments chain wide including toys, books, and luggage. It was there that his love for international travel developed. He made more than 20 trips to the Orient and even more trips all over Europe. He could navigate cities like London and Tokyo from memory. Hong Kong was his favorite. During these trips, he made a point to connect with missionaries in many of the cities he traveled to and developed lasting friendships with these families.

The second half of his career was spent in Christian publishing. He worked at Scripture Press in Wheaton and retired from Moody Publishers in Chicago. He loved using his business acumen to support these ministries and volunteered on several local ministry and neighborhood boards over the years.

He will be remembered for his love of family and friends. He was a great lover of music and has a beautiful baritone voice. Jerry was a member of the College Church choir for many years. Organ music was his favorite, but Jerry and Ruth enjoyed a variety of concerts over the years. Favorites were the Millenium Park in Chicago, and they were regular attenders at the Thursday night band concerts in downtown Wheaton.

More than anything, Jerry will be remembered for his commitment to Jesus and his confidence in the Lord’s plan for his life. He and Ruth modeled their deep faith in Jesus for their children and grandchildren.

Jerry is survived by his children Sharon (Paul) Heggeland, Linda Wit, Stephen (Rebecca) Wit, his grandchildren Jake (Molly) Heggeland, Britta Heggeland, Jared (Megan) Heggeland, Isaac Wit, Isabel Wit, Ingrid Wit, Ivy Wit, his great-granddaughter Lainey Heggeland, and his brother Larry Wit. There are many other in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends that meant so much to him.

Jerry was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ruth, his parents Gerrit and Rena Wit, his sister-in-law Nancy Wit and many other beloved family members and in-laws.

A visitation with the family will be held at College Church in Wheaton, 332 E. Seminary Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187, on Friday, July 24th at 2:00 pm with a memorial service starting at 3:30 PM. Burial will be private at Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois or College Church in Wheaton, Illinois.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.