83, of Valley Park, MO
Viva Jo “Vi” Wittler, 83, of Valley Park, Missouri, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri, with her daughters by her side. She was born on November 14, 1941, in Macomb, Illinois, to the late Wayne and Josephine Barth.Family was Vi’s greatest joy. She was the proud mother of four daughters: Pamela (Eric) Miller of St. Louis, MO; Brenda (Mike) Howsmon of St. Louis, MO; Cynthia (Kent) Humphrey of Kansas City, MO; and Michelle (Marshall) McGrath of Camdenton, MO. She cherished her grandchildren, Tara (Zach) McGovern, Adam (Jess) Miller, James Howsmon, and Josh (Rachel) Howsmon, and delighted in being “Gigi” to her great-grandchildren, Graham and Emma McGovern.She was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Josephine Barth, and her grandparents, Charles and Portia Hodges, and Pete and Myrtle Barth. She is survived by her brothers, Douglas Deems of Kingman, AZ, and Gregory Deems of Cortez, CO, along with extended family and dear friends.Vi graduated from Northwestern High School in Blandinsville, IL, and attended Bradley University. Her life was defined by passion, creativity, and adventure. Music was a lifelong love — she directed her church choir and performed in local theater productions. She embraced exploration as a flight attendant for Braniff Airlines, later worked as a legal secretary with expertise in shorthand, and found great success in direct sales and recruiting with Sarah Coventry and Contempo Fashions. For more than two decades, she excelled as a real estate broker, managing hundreds of agents throughout the St. Louis area. A natural leader, she was also a gifted motivational speaker and trainer who inspired many.In her later years, Vi pursued her love of animals through showing and breeding her beloved Chinese Cresteds. This passion led to treasured friendships, travel to shows across the country, and the honor of winning awards at both the Westminster Dog Show in New York City and the Eukanuba Classic in Florida.Vi was blessed with a wonderful family, dear friends, and a rich, fulfilling life. She lit up a room and left sparkles wherever she went. Literally, she left sparkles! Her creativity and artistic abilities shone through until the very end. She requested that her memorial be filled with good music and laughter and encouraged us all to share and hold dear our funniest memories of her.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to The American Heart Association (https://ahatribute.funraise. org/fundraiser/vi-wittler) or Pet Rescue Network (https:// petrescuenetworkstl.com/donate/) in her memory. A celebration of Vi’s life will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025, at Schrader Funeral Home in Manchester, MO. A graveside service will follow at a later date in Blandinsville, IL.
Grave side services will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Glade City Cemetery in Blandinsville with Deacon Larry Adams officiating.
Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home in Blandinsville is in charge of local arrangements. You may leave condolences and sign the guest book online at clugston-tibbitts.com.
