RITTER, Donald P. 1921-2003

RITTER, CONLEY, BUTTJER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/4/2009 at 10:53:18

Donald P. Ritter, 82, a resident of 2578 280th Street, Greene, died Tuesday, December 9, 2003, at his home.

A funeral Mass for Donald P. Ritter will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City. Monisgnor Walter Brunkan, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Greene, will officiate. Burial will be in Sunnyside Memory Gardens, rural Charles City, Floyd county, Iowa. Military honors will be conducted by V.F.W. Post 6792 of Nashua.

Friends may call at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday where the Rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. and where there will also be a Vigil Scriptural Wake Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue Saturday at the church an hour prior to the Mass.

Donald Patrick Ritter was born November 24, 1921, at New Hampton, the son of Leo and Marcella (Conley) Ritter. He graduated from the Nashua High School. Don served in the United States Army during World War II and received the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze star, and the Combat Infantryman Badge with two bronze campaign stars.

Upon returning home he continued farming and working with horses. On February 11, 1950, he was united in marriage to LaVonne Buttjer at Mason City. They farmed for over 50 years at the present farm where Don was residing at the time of his death. He also retired as a meat inspector for the state of Iowa. Working with horses was his passion. He raised registered paint horses in addition to spotted draft horses.

Don, LaVonne and their children were active member of the Nashua Trail Riders Club for many years. Through out the summer he was also known for his 4-horse paint hitch and hundred year old Saint Paul fire hose wagon that he owned. This was used in numerous parades and for all types of celebrations and occasions in primarily a six county area. His appreciation for paint horses was key to his beginning of breeding them to this day. His many contributions included helping youth riders including the 4-H horse exhibitors of the Floyd County Fair where he also served as horse show judge.

He was instrumental in creating interest in bringing back the draft horse show at the Big Four Fair at Nashua when interest had dwindled with the introduction of tractors replacing draft horses on the farm. At that time he showed Belgian drafts at the fair. Following that he was an exhibitor o Charlois cattle and paint horses for several years. On his 80th birthday he was recognized for having only missed one Waverly Iowa Horse Sale for 50 years. Don's last accomplishment was plowing at the State Line Plowing Contest at LeRoy, Minn., on September 20, 2003, with his sported draft horses. He was a member of the North American Spotted Draft Horse Association, American Paint Horse Association, and State Line Horse Plowing Association. Other interests included dancing, listening to polka music and watching westerns.

He is survived by two sons, Donald P. Ritter II of Newnan, Ga., and Douglas Ritter of Greene; two daughters, Diane and Darla Ritter, both of Greene; three grandchildren, Bethany and Megan Wihlm, and Daylene Ritter; three brothers, Wallace Ritter of Greene, Paul (Jackie) Ritter of Colwell and Roger (Pat) Ritter, Charles City; two brothers-in-law, James Sweet and Sidney Stoffel, both of California; and a sister-in-law, Elaine Ritter of Oak Creek, Wisc.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two sisters, Joane Sweet and Donna Stoffel, and a brother, Richard Ritter.