Dale Ritz

DALE RITZ

Bonaparte

Dale Ritz, 85, of Bonaparte, passed away Jan. 8, 2022, at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Visitation for family and friends will be from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, at Behner Funeral Home. Graveside service at Memorial Lawn will follow at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Danny Cary officiating. Memorials may be made to the family and mailed to Patricia Ritz, 22520 RTW 40, Bonaparte, IA 52620.

Dale was born Feb. 1, 1936, in Jefferson County to Guy Elbridge and Edna Martha (Roberts) Ritz. He married Iwanda Rayfield Hoage on April 2, 1960. She passed away March 13, 1995. Dale was blessed to find love again and married Patricia Ann Zachmeyer on Nov. 11, 1998.

Dale served in the Army and worked as a foundry worker in the maintenance department at Iowa Malleable, Dexter and Falco. He was a hard worker, and liked to tinker on anything that wasn't working right until it was fixed. He liked John Deere and Fords. Most important was spending time with family and friends.

Dale will be missed by his wife, Patricia; five kids, Pamilla Blakley, Fairfield, Iowa, Felicia (Lee) Graham, Fort Wayne, Ind., Tawny Essary-Wood, Dallas City, Ill., Shari (Keith) Durand, Dallas City, Ill., and Christy (Jay) Moody, Fort Wayne, Ind.; 17 grandchildren; numerous great-grandkids; four sisters; and one brother.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Edna; first wife, Iwanda; one son, Elsworth Cook Jr.; www.behnerfh.com.