Thomas Rittenmeyer

RITTENMEYER, SCHMUCKER

Posted By: Greg Strub (email)
Date: 4/13/2010 at 15:10:10

1978 - 11 August - Iowa City Press Citizen

Iowa Citian Killed in motorcycle crash

A weekend ride to see motorcycle races in Illinois became a tragedy for the family of an Iowa City man killed Saturday night.

Thomas Rittenmeyer, of 1119 East Court Street, was riding his new motorcycle to Peoria, Ill., Saturday about 10 p.m. about 10 p.m. when it collided head-on with a car driven by a Burlington man, killing them both.

Authorities report the accident occurred on U.S. 34 near Gulfport, Ill., just across the Mississippi River from Burlington.

Rittenmeyer was pronounce dead at the scene. The driver of the car, Lawrence Carter, 52, was dead on arrival at Burlington Memorial Hospital.

Carter's wife, Lola, 50, is reported in "fair" condition today at the same hospital.

Mrs. Carter told authorities Rittenmeyer's motorcycle was apparently trying to pass another vehicle and was in the oncoming lane when the collision occurred.

Members of the Rittenmeyer family said today their son had just bought the motorcycle Wednesday.

Funeral mass for Rittenmeyer will be 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with burial in the new section of St. Joseph's Cemetery. Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. today at the George L. Gay Funeral Home.

He was born Aug. 30, 1964, in 1964, in Iowa City to Ted and Marjorie Crock Rittenmeyer. He graduated from Iowa City High School in 1972 and attended Kirkwood Community College. He had been employed at Ron King's Body Shop in Lone Tree.

He was a member of St. Mary's Church.

He is survived by his parents; one brother, Michael; and two sisters, Mrs. Ed (Susan) Schmucker, and Mary Jo, all of Iowa City.