Dean D. Ritzman

Mr. Ritzman died Thursday at the Rowley Memorial Masonic Home in Perry. Dean DeWitt Ritzman, son of Clifford E. and Estelle Smith Ritzman, was born January 18, 1919 at Perry, Iowa and died February 3, 2011 at the Rowley Memorial Masonic Home in Perry, Iowa, at the age of 92 years and 15 days. Dean's funeral services were held at2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 5, 2011, Irene Barbara Lunde Chapel, at the Rowley Memorial Masonic Home, in Perry, Words of comfort were by his Pastor Jan Kolar of the Raccoon River Bible Camp at Scranton, Iowa. The casket bearers were "His Grandchildren", Terry Snyder, Randy Snyder, Tim Snyder, Eric Snyder, Shelley Sndyer, Angela Cottrell and Andrew Snyder. The pianist was Betty Hall, the soloist was Darlene Roeder the special music was How Great Thou Art, I Love to Tell the Story and Sentimental Journey, Burial was at 10:00 Monday February 7, at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry. Dean attended school at Washington Township, graduating in 1936. He enlisted with the United States Army Air Corps in 1942, serving during WWII as a radio repairman on B29s on Tinian Island. He was honorably discharged in November of 1945.On August 23, 1943, he was united in marriage with Doris Eloise Dunlop at Moville, Iowa. To this union, three daughters were born: Deanette, Cheryl and Carolyn. Dean was a lifelong Perry resident and farmer. He farmed with his father and continued in the farming industry until his retirement. He and Eloise built their home on the farm and enjoyed raising crops and livestock. His passion was operating his ham radio with his call letters being WGLH. He also enjoyed raising fruit trees, gardening, camping, and traveling. Dean loved homemade ice cream. He was a member of the Minburn Coop Board, the Lincoln Township Board of Trustees, the Raccoon Valley Ham Radio Group, and was a lifelong member of the Shiloh Bible Church and a Shiloh Group that met for many years. He will be remembered as an inspiration to friends and family. Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Estelle; his step-mother June Flinn; brother Darrell Ritzman, and sister-in-law Marilyn Ritzman. He is survived by his wife of 68 years Eloise of Perry; his daughters: Deanette Snyder and her husband Lee of Minburn, Cheryl Hathaway and her husband Bob of Park Forest, Illinois, and Carolyn Snyder and her husband Paul of rural Perry; seven grandchildren: Terry Snyder of Minburn; Randy Snyder and his wife Sandy of Payson, Arizona, Tim Snyder and his wife Ann of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Eric Snyder and his wife Dana of Grimes, Shelley Snyder of Ankeny, Angela Cottrell and her husband Travis of St. Charles, Missouri, and Andrew Snyder and his wife Beth of Ankeny; fourteen great-grandchildren, his sister-in-law Frances Schmidt of Jefferson, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Homemade ice cream by ( Bill & Judy Kemp) and refreshments were served immediately following the service. Memorials are suggested to the Washington Township School Restoration and may be sent to Hastings Funeral Home, 1417 2nd St., Perry, Iowa 50220. hastingsfh@qwestoffice.net 515 465-4691 www.hastingsfh.com and may be left at Hastings Funeral Home.