Ritscher, Carl

Carl Ritscher, 104, died Thursday, May 12, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 16, at St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone, with the Rev. Richard Osslund officiating. Private family committal services will be held at Keystone Cemetery. Friends may call at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone from 3 to 6 p.m. today.

Carl was born Oct. 12, 1906, at Ostermoor, Germany, to Heinrich and Katharina (Rathje) Ritscher. He immigrated to the United States in 1924. On Feb. 4, 1933, he was united in marriage to Mae Behrens at Rock Island, Ill. She preceded him in death on Feb. 25, 2000.

Carl farmed the majority of his life near Keystone. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone, Keystone Turners since 1930, Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Society and the Farm Bureau.

He is survived by his sons, Robert (Phyllis) Ritscher and Harold (Mary) Ritscher, both of Keystone; his grandchildren, Paul Ritscher, Karen Ritscher, Wayne (Kelsey) Ritscher and Marie (Rob) Mills; his great-grandchildren, John (fiancee Ashley Frazier) Ritscher, Mark (Christina) Ritscher, Lacey and Ellie Ritscher and Annabelle and Charles Ritscher; his great-great-granddaughter, MacKenna Ritscher; his stepgrandchildren, Sarah Brown and Jennifer (Richard) DeLillo; his stepgreat-grandchildren, Savannah, Grace, Richard and Eliana DeLillo; and his sister, Ilse Harder of Germany.

In addition to his parents and his wife, Mae, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Alan Ritscher; and four brothers, Herbert, Hans, Hans II and Klaus.

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