Roger & Marilyn Ritter, both 94 of Clear Lake, IA, passed away peacefully within 24 hours of each other on February 2 and February 3, respectively. They were married for 73 years and enjoyed spending every moment of their lives as husband and wife.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 28, 2025, at Faith Baptist Church, 1807 S Kentucky Avenue in Mason City, IA with Pastor Tim Moore officiating. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. A private family inurnment will take place Friday afternoon at the Clear Lake Cemetery.
The family suggests memorials be made payable to Faith Baptist Church or Hospice Support Foundation.
Roger John Ritter was born on June 7, 1930, on a farm near Chokio, MN. His parents, Larry & Alpha Ritter, lived in Minnesota for approximately two years prior to moving to a farm near Fertile, IA where they farmed for several years. Roger attended school in Fertile and graduated from high school in 1948 after which he attended Waldorf College in Forest City, IA and graduated in 1950. Upon graduation he accepted a position as an accountant and assistant manager at the Thompson Yards Lumber Company in Forest City, IA.
Marilyn Ann Ritter was born January 11, 1931, on the family farm in Elmore Minnesota. She was the only child of Irvin and Pearl Thompson. They moved to Rake, IA where they continued farming. Marilyn graduated as valedictorian from Rake High School in 1948. After high school she attended Waldorf College where she earned a teaching degree, following in the footsteps of her mother Pearl who was a schoolteacher in a one room schoolhouse. Marilyn then began teaching 6th grade in Forest City, IA.
In 1950, Roger & Marilyn met in Forest City. After dating for approximately one year, they became engaged in June 1951, and married on August 19, 1951, at Liberty Lutheran Church in Rake, IA. Two months after their marriage, Roger was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. After his basic training at Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania, PA he was sent to Fort Benning, GA, for approximately three months, training at the U.S. Paratrooper Base. After completing paratrooper jump school training he was sent to the 11th Airborne in Fort Campbell, KY where he made 23 paratrooper jumps designed to prepare him and others for deployment to Korean War; however, the Korean War ended in 1953. He would often recall a jump in which is parachute did not fully deploy, resulting in an extremely hard landing which was the likely cause of a lifelong struggle with back pain.
While at Fort Campbell, Roger & Marilyn became the parents of their first born a son, John, on March 6, 1953. After an honorable discharge from the Army in October 1953, Roger went back to work for Thompson Yards in Lakeville, MN as Yard Manager for approximately six years. During this time their second child, Sue, was born on March 1, 1954.
In 1959 Roger accepted a position as an insurance representative with the Lutheran Brotherhood Life Insurance Society. This position required that the couple move to Fort Dodge, IA to service clients in that area. Marilyn remained active as a homemaker and was very active in their church. She also spent time as a day care worker in Fort Dodge.
In 1964 Roger & Marilyn and their two children moved to Clear Lake, IA and along with Roger’s parents, constructed Ritter’s Oakwood Manor, a nursing home facility, in Clear Lake. Roger was the administrator and Marilyn worked as the dietary department supervisor. Four years later they expanded the facility and doubled the occupancy to approximately 89 residents to accommodate those under the Medicare & Medicaid programs. On December 15, 1971, Roger & Marlyn welcomed twins Jennifer & Matthew to their family.
In 1973, they sold Ritter’s Oakwood Manor and Roger reentered the insurance business by purchasing an existing property and casualty insurance agency. Roger continued to serve his insurance clients in the Clear Lake and surrounding area for the next 23 years until he sold his insurance agency to First Gabrielson Agency. Roger continued to work for First Gabrielson Agency until he finally retired at the young age of 90. He was a long-time member of the Clear Lake Noon Lions Club, an organization he held dear to his heart. Over the years Marilyn remained active in Tri-T, Clear Lake Christian Women, and other women’s service groups at Zion Lutheran Church.
Marilyn had a great love for her family that was only second to her love for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was a bold witness to others about the free gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Some of her last words before God brought her home was, “I just want to go to be with Jesus”. In her diary she wrote, “My hope and my dream for my family is that we will all be together in Heaven”. Both Roger & Marilyn accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord & Savior. They attended Faith Baptist Church in Mason City for the last several years and were so grateful to the pastors who preached the saving grace and Gospel of Jesus Christ every Sunday. They were thankful to have met so many new friends and acquaintances at Faith Baptist Church who cared deeply for them in their final years.
Roger & Marilyn’s family would like to thank several staff at Apple Valley Place in Clear Lake for the care and love they showed Roger & Marilyn over the last several months and the amazing people at St. Croix Hospice who provided physical & emotional care for Roger & Marilyn.
Roger & Marilyn are survived by their four children, John (Sherri) Ritter of Rochester, MN, Sue (Jon) Secory of Clear Lake, IA, Jennifer Mellman of Mongomery, IL, and Matthew (Renee) Ritter of Clear Lake, IA; Seven grandchildren: Dr. Adam (Jaime) Secory of Waukee, IA, Dr. Andrew (Sarah) Secory of Pella, IA, Allison Secory of West Des Moines, IA, Sara (Jesse) Schafer of Rochester, MN, Becky (Tyler) Ties Pine Island, MN, Jarod Mellman of Columbia, MO, and Chloe Mellman of Montgomery, IL; and Roger’s sister, Janice Kitchen of Fountain Hills, AZ. They were also great-grandparents to nine great-grandchildren.
Roger & Marilyn were preceded in death by Roger’s parents, Larry & Alpha Ritter; Marilyn’s parents Irvin & Pearl Thompson; Roger’s 10-year-old brother Larry Dean Ritter; and one brother-in-law, Larry Kitchen.
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