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John Ritchay Obituary
Wisconsin Rapids - John A. Ritchay Sr, age 89, of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at the Marshfield Medical Center.
A Mass of Christian Burial for John will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 24, 2019 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. Valentine Joseph will officiate the service. The family will greet relatives and friends on Thursday evening at Ritchay Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM and again Friday morning at the church from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Burial will take place following the service at Calvary Cemetery in Wisconsin Rapids. There will be a Knights of Columbus Rosary held at the funeral home at 6:30 PM on Thursday evening.
John was born on June 29, 1929 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin to the late Aaron and Ethel (O'Brien) Ritchay. He graduated from Saints Peter and Paul Elementary School, Lincoln High School- Class of 1947 and St. Norbert College in 1951. During high school and college, John excelled in athletics. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 - 1953 during the Korean War where he served overseas for 14 months. John married Mary A. Weix on October 29, 1955 in Merrill. She died April 28, 2014. Following his military service, John attended the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science in Milwaukee. He purchased the Krohn and Berard Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids in 1957 and the Feldner Funeral Home in Nekoosa in 1981. He was a funeral director in the Wisconsin Rapids area for over 50 years.
John was a member of various civic and church organizations in the Wisconsin Rapids area over the years; including the Wisconsin Rapids Knights of Columbus Council #1558, Knights of Columbus 3rd and 4th Degree, Serra Club and Kiwanis Club. John was a charter member of the Lincoln High School Athletic Hall of Fame and was a member of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee. He was a charter member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish where he served as an usher for over 50 years and served on and was past president of the Parish Council. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing bridge with his bridge club.
John is survived by five children John (Mary) Ritchay Jr. of Wisconsin Rapids, Bill (Terri) Ritchay of Green Bay, Mike (Patti) Ritchay of Wisconsin Rapids, Susan (Marc) Moroder of Stevens Point and Ann (Landon) Williams of Madison; grandchildren Amy (Tate) Gisslen, Vicki (Ben) Oleson, Jenna (Ian) Goodwin, Aaron (Jacquelyn) Ritchay, Ryan (Jaclyn) Ritchay, Alex Ritchay, Vinny (Hannah) Ritchay, Jenny (Fiancé TJ Fecteau) Ritchay, Joe (Hallie) Ritchay, Justin Moroder, Maggie Moroder, Maddie Williams and Eli Williams; great-grandchildren Lydia, Garrett, Abigail, Brady, Cecilia, Ella, Hudson, Maxwell, Ava, Evan and Connor. He is further survived by his sister Jane Junk Carpenter, sister-in-law Minnie Ritchay and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ritchay, parents, brother James Ritchay and in-laws Emil and Kathleen Weix.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish.
The Ritchay Family would like to thank the caring staff of the Renaissance Assisted Living for their loving and compassionate care for the past six years. They would also like to thank the staff of 5 North at Marshfield Medical Center for their assistance.
Above all, John valued faith, family and funeral home.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Ritchay
Sponsored by Ritchay Funeral Home - Wisconsin Rapids.
Tom and Laura Habel
May 28, 2019
Mike and the Ritchay family, we know how hard it is to lose a father. He taught you well. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God bless.
Paul & Rose (Peckham) Hoffman
May 24, 2019
John and family, I'm sure your father was very proud of all of you. You have shown my family in the last 2 months your thoughtfulness, kindness, caring and compassionate feelings as you helped us make final arrangements for our parents.
You and your families have our deepest condolences and prayers.
Larry Nash
May 24, 2019
Hello Ritchays-- please accept my belated condolences on Uncle John's passing. I can imagine how much humor and gratitude were in evidence at today's celebrations, because he brought both in abundance wherever he went. I know my dad was always glad to be living again with his Ritchay family, and was glad to hear that Jane had joined your dad at the Renaissance. Sympathies and greetings to all your assembled families from the Nashes. We'll be remembering you and your mom and dad through this Memorial Day and well beyond.
All best,
Larry/LT Nash
May 24, 2019
Dear Susan, Marc, Justin & Maggie,
I did not know your dad, grandpa personally, but I can tell by how he raised a wonderful family.
Susan, I know this is a difficult time for you & my thoughts & prayers are with you.
Sincerely, Elaine Bunczak
Rosholt, Wis.
Mark Jelacic
May 24, 2019
To the Ritchay Family,
Please accept my sympathy concerning the death of Mr. Ritchay. He was a credit to funeral service for many decades.
People sometimes forget that "funeral" families somehow handle loss easier; as though we don't feel the pain of the loss of a husband, a father, a grandfather, as others feel the pain when they have a death in their family. We caregivers feel that grief, too. I remember when my father died a priest, meaning the well, said " well, you grew up in a funeral home, so you are used to this". I guess he didn't figure that my dad had never died before and that I would somehow get through it much easier than others do. I think a lot of people think this way about funeral directors.
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you during these healing days. The tears of grief will turn to tears of joy as you progress through the healing process.
Mark Jelacic
Jelacic Funeral Home, Inc.
Aggie Smazal Smazal
May 24, 2019
SORRY TO HEAR OF THE PASSING OF YOUR FATHER. HE WAS A GOOD MAN AND LIKED BY EVERYONE..MY DEEPEST SYNPATHY GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY OF JOHN.PRAYERS GOES OUT TO HIM AND HIS FAMILY.GOD BLESS HIM.
Pat Ostrum
May 24, 2019
Dear John Jr and Mike and families,
Joe and I were sorry to hear of the passing of your father, who was a very good man. He and his family have taken care of so many people with compassion and guidance. He and your mother have raised a wonderful and caring family. Your family have made our lives much easier to adjust to with your finesse, expertise and compassion. It appears your father had taught you all the right qualities of being fine men. Your loss is deeply missed by many. Friends, Joe and Pat Ostrum
Gary SABO
May 24, 2019
Mike,John jr. and family. Prayers for you all. May your dad rejoice with our Lord.
Brian John Haas
May 22, 2019
My condolences to Mike & Patti and the entire Ritchay family. I remember how your Dad was chosen and asked to speak on behalf of all the parents of our AHS class at our Bachelorette (5/20/1980 . . . almost 39 years ago to the day).
Ron & Nancy Vechinski
May 22, 2019
John jr, Mike and rest of the family. You have our deepest and heartfelt sympathies. We will always cherish the times we would meet with you and your dad in his office along with Fr. Doyle to discuss everything from football, basketball and anything else. Your dad will be missed.
Mary Herman
May 22, 2019
Dear John, Mike and Family,
A week ago you helped us put Clare to rest and a week later you are having to do the same. My sympathy to your family and sincere thanks for supporting our grief so kindly.
Sandra McKee
May 22, 2019
There was always a kindness about this sweet man. No matter how upset you were, he always gave everyone the time and care they needed to make the right decisions for their loved one. He had an amazing memory. He could recount our whole family and we could feel comforted that he had taken such good care of them. He will be missed.
Rich Meyer
May 22, 2019
John and Bill,
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your father. He raised a great family!
Rich Meyer
Linda Sherwood
May 21, 2019
I send my sympathy to Mr. Ritchay's family. I have a memory from back in 1955. I was in first grade back then in Wisconsin Rapids. My dad, Howard R. Harper, worked for Krohn & Berard Funeral Home. We loved the Rapids area but my dad had a dream of going back to Peshtigo to continue the Harper Funeral Home. My husband became a funeral director and worked for my dad. I did the book keeping making me the fifth generation in the business in Peshtigo. Dad always talked about Rapids and Krohn & Berard and those he worked with. He probably knew John and mentioned him but I don't remember any specific names. I know he was happy working there. Howard died in Jan. 3, 2012.
May 21, 2019
My deepest sympathy to the Ritchay family. Mr. Ritchay was the kindest man I have ever met.
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