Berkley Donald RITCHIE

RITCHIE, FONKEN, MCDONALD, JOHNSON, OWENS, SMITH, REHKEMPER, STILLWELL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/24/2015 at 14:10:17

June 28, 1930 --- June 19, 2015

Services for Berkley Donald Ritchie, 84, who passed away Friday, June 19, 2015, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, IA, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 24, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Indianola of which he was a member. Burial will follow at the Indianola I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Berk was born on June 28, 1930, to Donald and Pearl (Fonken) Ritchie in Eagle Grove, IA, the oldest of five children and graduated from North High School in Des Moines. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War on several ships the last being the U.S.S. OBannon.

Berk married his beautiful wife Nancy on May 15, 1954, and they were married for 50 years before Nancy passed away in 2004. Berk had a long career with Northwestern Bell. While there he held many different jobs including lineman, service foreman and retiring as a claim examiner. Berk loved to camp and following retirement he and Nancy became "Winter Texans." He also loved being with his family and enjoyed watching his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren play their sports. He could be heard shouting many times "that's my grandchild" from the stands.

He is survived by his daughters, Donna (Tom) McDonald, Susan (Larry) Johnson and Sharon (Jay) Owens; son, Donald (Debbie) Ritchie; grandchildren, Melissa (Stan) Smith, T.R. (Cindy) McDonald, Summer (Robert) Rehkemper, Bradley Johnson, Ryan (Sarah) Ritchie, Eric (Kara) Ritchie, Justin (Brittany) Owens and Travis Owens; 13 great-grandchildren; brothers, Roger and Wesley Ritchie; sister, Marjorie Stillwell; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Berk was preceded in death by his wife Nancy, his parents and sister Dolores Ritchie. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 23, at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be made to Berk's church.

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