Ronald Gerald Ritsema, 86, of Whitewater, passed away peacefully March 12, 2016, in Fort Atkinson.
He was born June 27, 1929, at home in rural Whitewater. He was the sixth child of seven born to Andrew Ritsema and Rosa Marie Fredericka (Heyse) Ritsema.
He began his education in a one-room country school, but completed only one year of high school due to being unable to secure transportation to and from town in order to continue. He and his siblings worked long hours assisting their Dutch immigrant father in sharecropping, living on various farms in areas of Cold Spring, Lima Center, and Heart Prairie. After auctioning off all their belongings, his parents moved the family to Whitewater.
Ron worked as a pinsetter at Tommy Leonard’s Bar and Grill, and as a lifeguard at Tripp Lake in Whitewater. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and after completing basic training he shipped out from San Francisco to Guam. The troop transport on which he sailed blew an engine which caused the ocean trip to take an extra two weeks during which time all onboard were horribly seasick. Shortly after arriving in Guam, the troops were assembled for inspection and an honor guard selected from the new arrivals. He was one of those chosen, later becoming a member of the 59th Military Police Company.
During his service he was awarded two bronze stars. After serving an additional year as mandated by the President, he was honorably discharged and began working at the Nunn-Bush Shoe Factory in Edgerton. On the advice of a friend, he applied to and was hired by General Motors in Janesville, holding various positions including welder, inspector and relief man. His employee identification number was only three digits long. His favorite job was as a relief man, doing other people’s jobs while they took their scheduled breaks because “the line never stops.” For over 40 years, Ron worked for General Motors during which time he had an exemplary attendance record.
In 1958, Ron married Gail Marie Cowles, a college student waitressing at Crummy’s Drive-In and Marine in Whitewater. She walked over to take his order, asking, “What’ll you have?” He made her smile with the cheesy reply, “You.” To this union three children were born: Lisa Holly “Lisa Bug” (Ritsema) Nuhring, Ronald Reid “Tiger” Ritsema, and Melanie C’Ana Cowles “Fritzi” (Ritsema) Heckel.
Ron was happiest when enjoying nature. After their dream house was built, he and Gail moved to the Johnstown area in the mid-1960s and he created numerous paths within their 60 acres of woods and enjoyed keeping them and the lawns immaculate. Throughout his life he nurtured several orphaned baby animals including a flying squirrel, numerous raccoons, gray squirrels and even a skunk. He and Gail also enjoyed polka-dancing particularly if Verne Meisener’s band was playing. Gail and Ron would get dressed to the nines for dancing on New Year’s Eve. Ron was also an avid collector of brass railroad keys, exquisite antique glassware, old marbles and sake cups. He especially enjoyed adding to his extensive collection of rare ammunition cartridges and Native American artifacts and arrowheads.
He possessed a great sense of humor and enjoyed growing a variety of lilies, watching old westerns and the Masters Golf Tournament with his son, Tiger. In his younger days he enjoyed camping in the Kettle Moraine State Forest with friends. For many years he sported a perfect crewcut and Old Spice was his cologne of choice. He was a natural athlete and adept at hitting targets with rifles, pistols and knives and much to his kids’ surprise, he was a crack shot with a slingshot. He loved a good grilled steak from Johnstown Meat Market, his daughter Fritzi’s rhubarb cake and his ever-present glass of ice cold Sundrop.
Ron is survived by his three children, Lisa (Daniel) Nuhring, Grantsburg; Melanie (Fred) Heckel, Sullivan; and Ronald Ritsema, Las Vegas. He is also survived by his beloved granddaughter, Olivia L’Mae Heckel, Milwaukee. He is further survived by five sisters, Viola Ida (Ritsema) Stoll, Curacao, Netherland Antilles, Virginia Emma (Ritsema) Taber, Roscoe, Ill., Leatrice Lillian (Ritsema) Selnow, Harvard, Ill., Bessie Louise (Ritsema) Moss, Yorkville, Ill., and Nancy Ann (Ritsema) Mason, Roscoe, Ill., as well as numerous nieces, and nephews.
Ron was predeceased by his parents; his ex-wife, Gail Ritsema; his brother, Clifford Fred Ritsema; his sister-in-law, Ethel (Schoenneman) Ritsema; and brothers-in-law, Herbert Stoll, Eugene Leroy Taber, Henry Floyd Selnow, Paul Francis Moss and Samuel Peterson Mason.
Schneider-Michaelis Funeral Home, Jefferson, will be handling the arrangements for cremation. Per Ron’s request, there will be no visitation. A private funeral service will be officiated by the Rev. Matthew Smith-Laubenstein with interment in Cold Spring Cemetery, Cold Spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorials would be welcomed by the Wildlife in Need Center, Suite B, W349-S1480 South Waterville Road, Oconomowoc, 53066. They provide hospitalization and rehabilitation for injured wild animals.
Visit www.schneidermichaelisfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence or light a candle in his memory.