Wilhelm John Sittner
Wilhelm John Sittner was born February 21, 1916, in Portland, Oregon, the son of George Philipp (born August 18, 1886, in Huck, Russia) and Katherine Schlitt (born July 9, 1890, in Norka, Russia). George Philipp arrived in the United States in 1912 and married Katherine on July 1, 1913, in Tacoma, Washington.
Dr. Wilhelm J. and Imogene Sittner
Wilhelm (also known as William and Bill) graduated from Jefferson High School in 1934 and Whitman College in 1938. He graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Oregon Medical School (now Oregon Health Sciences University or OHSU) in June 1942. He completed his internship at Emanuel Hospital in Portland. Dr. Sittner was one of the first Volga German descendants in Portland to graduate with an advanced degree.
During World War II, Dr. Sittner served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps in the Pacific.
After the war, Dr. Sittner completed surgical residencies at Emanuel Hospital and Trinity Hospital in Minot, North Dakota.
Dr. Sittner married Imogene (Penny) Leghorn on May 21, 1955. Penny Sittner served as President of the Oregon Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia from 1982 to 1983.
Dr. Sittner served in private practice for 40 years, retiring in 1991. After his retirement, he continued to assist in surgery for another six years. Dr. Sittner was a member of the staff at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and OHSU, and an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine.
Dr. and Mrs. Sittner were devoted members of the First Presbyterian Church in Portland.
Dr. Sittner died in Portland on September 5, 2000, and was interred at the Rose City Cemetery.
During World War II, Dr. Sittner served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps in the Pacific.
After the war, Dr. Sittner completed surgical residencies at Emanuel Hospital and Trinity Hospital in Minot, North Dakota.
Dr. Sittner married Imogene (Penny) Leghorn on May 21, 1955. Penny Sittner served as President of the Oregon Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia from 1982 to 1983.
Dr. Sittner served in private practice for 40 years, retiring in 1991. After his retirement, he continued to assist in surgery for another six years. Dr. Sittner was a member of the staff at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and OHSU, and an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine.
Dr. and Mrs. Sittner were devoted members of the First Presbyterian Church in Portland.
Dr. Sittner died in Portland on September 5, 2000, and was interred at the Rose City Cemetery.
Sources
Ancestry.com
Sittner, Jean. A Sittner family history: some descendants of Wilhelm Sittner 1720-1800. Portland, Oregon: 1997.
Sittner, Dr. Wilhelm John Obituary, The Oregonian [Portland], September 9, 2000.
Dr. Raymond P. Koch
Sittner, Jean. A Sittner family history: some descendants of Wilhelm Sittner 1720-1800. Portland, Oregon: 1997.
Sittner, Dr. Wilhelm John Obituary, The Oregonian [Portland], September 9, 2000.
Dr. Raymond P. Koch
Last updated October 7, 2025