Michael Bitton

PHOENIX - Michael llan Bitton, 66, of Phoenix, AZ, died on June 23, 2025 at Hospice of the Valley in Tempe, AZ.

He was born September 29, 1958 in Nahariya, Israel, to lsaac & Miriam Bitton. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte "Shannon" Bitton; sons Christopher Litzkow (Cheryl) of Stoughton, WI, David Bitton (Erin) of Mount Horeb, WI, and Joseph Bitton (Nicole) of Vesta, MN; step-son Jeremy Kelso of Phoenix, AZ, step-daughter Ashley Ratliff (Randy) of Glendale, AZ: eight grandchildran Nadia, Anna, Tynille, Brendan, Dylan, Allison, Sophia and Anika; four great-grandchildren, Jake, Josie, Richard and Zoe; a brother, Daniel Bitton (Debra) of Johnsburg, IL; a sister, Tamara Loosli (Ernst) of Zurich, Switzerland, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins from around the globe. 

He immigrated with his family to the United States in 1959, snd became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1964. A 1976 graduate of East High School in Madison, WI, he relocated to Woodstock, IL in 1978 to help his father run the family business, The Floor To Ceiling Store (originally named Plywood Minnesota). The business closed in 1999, however Michael remained active in the parent franchise company, Preferred Brands Corp. of Burnsville, MN, serving on its Board of Directors through the sale of the company in 2023. His charitable work including being a former member of the Board of Directors of the Challenger Learning Center for Science and Technology in Woodstock, the Board of Officers for the Woodstock Moose Family Center, the Board of Directors for Turning Point in Woodstock, and the Board of Directors for the Air-One Emergency Response Coalition. In 2004 he was accepted into the linois Police Academy and successfully graduated in 2005. He served as a Police Officer for the Village of Winthrop Harbor, IL, where he was promoted to Commander and also held the positions of Director of Police Administration and Village I.T. Director for Winthrop Harbor. He also ran his Internet Web site development business, MIB Development, from his home office.

In February of 2018 Michael married Charlotte "Shannon" Kelso and moved to Phoenix, AZ after retiring from the Winthrop Harbor Police Department. He became an Arizona licensed real estate sales agent and opened his Michael I.Bitton Real Estate business in November 2018. In 2022 he also began driving as a professional Chauffeur, enjoying meeting new people from around the World. He was a private pilot and loved to fly for recreation and exploration". He was also an avid motorcycle enthusiast, riding his Harley-Davidson across the country while making new friends and logging thousands of miles. He and Shannon also loved to explore the mountains on their Polaris RZR. His favorite pastime was spending time with his family, especially his wife, sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.