RITZ, Donald Irvin 1934 - 2010
RITZ, ROBERTS, SMITH, ELLIS, DAVISON, HOLT, BUCHER, SWANSON, CORNELL, DOYLE, TURNER, BLANCHARD, HAUSER, GIBBS, CHANCE, PRIVIA, HOWELL
Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 12/13/2010 at 15:09:57
"The Fairfield Ledger", Wednesday, December 8, 2010, Page 8
RITZ, Donald Irvin -- Donald Irvin RITZ, 76, of Mount Pleasant, formerly of Fairfield, died Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.
A funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Kimzey Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant, with the Rev. Jim Luder officiating. Burial will be in Lambirth Cemetery, rural Mount Pleasant.
Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the family present from 6-8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Central Iowa.
Mr. RITZ was born April 8, 1934, in rural Fairfield, the son of Guy Eldridge and Edna ROBERTS RITZ. He married Wilma Jean SMITH May 23, 1953, in Fairfield. She died Oct. 5, 1996, at home in Mount Pleasant.
Following the death of his parents, Mr. RITZ was raised by his uncle and aunt, Harry and Edna ROBERTS. He attended a country school in the area. Mr. RITZ previously worked at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown and for the Mount Pleasant Street Department. For many years, he was employed as a plumber and general maintenance worker at the Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute. He retired in 1996.
Mr. RITZ enjoyed bowling and bowled in a mixed league Monday nights at Iris Lanes. He enjoyed the ourdoors, often camping, fishing and boating while visiting his trailer on the Skunk River. He also enjoyed fixing things and working.
Survivors include three sons, Edward RITZ and wife Carol of Wayland, Richard RITZ of Hillsboro and Michael RITZ and wife Denice of Mount Pleasant; one daughter, Debra ELLIS and husband Thomas of Richland, Mo.; two brothers, Dale RITZ of Bonaparte and Richard DAVISON of Mount Pleasant; five sisters, Janice HOLT of Lebanon, Mo., Carol BUCHER of Nebraska, Marty SWANSON of Goodman, Wis., Patty CORNELL of Arkansas and Lois DOYLE of Competition, Mo.; eight cousins with whom he was raised, Bert TURNER of Washington, Iowa, Kay BLANCHARD of Oskaloosa, Ron ROBERTS of Pleasant Plain, JOhn ROBERTS of Oklahoma City, Okla., Gary ROBERTS of Brighton, Terry ROBERTS of Indiana, Arlene HAUSER of Washington, Iowa, and Vicky ROBERTS of Louisiana; one foster brother, Danny GIBBS of Burlington; 17 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; his aunt and uncle; one daughter, Linda CHANCE; one brother, Robert RITZ; one sister, Judy PRIVIA; and three cousins raised as siblings, Ralph ROBERTS, Charlene ROBERTS and Melva Jo HOWELL.
Copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.
Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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