Harold R. Ritter

OMAHA - Harold R. Ritter, 93, of Omaha, a member of the rapidly declining Greatest Generation, died peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, at Hillcrest Millard.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Columbus First United Methodist Church.
Burial with military honors will be at 3 p.m. at Pleasanton Cemetery.
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Harold was the third of six children born to Charles Ritter and Esther Rodehorst Ritter on Dec. 11, 1927. His siblings include an infant brother who died at birth, brother Dale Ritter, sister Mae Ritter Lange, brother Carrell Ritter and sister Sharon Ritter Sands. Harold was born near Pleasanton and grew up there on the family farm south of town. Harold attended Sun Flower Grade School and Pleasanton High School.
Harold enlisted in the Army and was part of the Occupation Forces of Japan following World War II. He served as company clerk at Yokohama, Japan. Following his discharge from the army he returned to his hometown of Pleasanton.
He married Elizabeth Marie Rone in 1949. They were the parents of six children, Bruce Rodney, Brenda Rae, Billy Reese, Bradley Roger, Beth Rene and Barbara Rochelle. Harold always had a desire to be a farmer, and did so on the side for many years, but made his living in his young adult years as the owner and operator of Ritter Oil Company and Tank Wagon Service. Later, he took employment at both Rockwell Manufacturing and Eaton Corporation in Kearney where he ran the heat treat furnaces.
His hobbies included his love of cars, gardening and tree planting. He planted well over 1,500 trees in his lifetime and particularly loved planting fruit trees. His gardens were well-known for his special yellow watermelon, which he gave away to "help atone for my youth when several watermelon may have come into my possession." One year he kept track of the watermelons he gave away and recorded giving 292 melons that season. He spent the first 13 years of his retirement in Melbourne Beach, Florida, and spent his time fishing, flying kites on the beach, golfing and riding his bike.
While in Florida he married Elayne Nickman Brown. Later in his retirement he moved to Columbus to be near family and continued his hobby of biking, fruit trees and watermelon, including his special square melon. Harold also liked to take epic cross country car trips without using a map or traveling on an interstate highway.
He was a faithful member of the Pleasanton United Methodist Church and Columbus First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his sister Sharon; children, Bruce and Irasema Ritter of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Joe and Brenda Costanza of Friendswood, Texas, Rev. Bill and Debbie Ritter of Omaha, Brad and Cathy Ritter of Denver, Colorado, Drs. Alan Osborn and Beth Ritter of Omaha and Todd and Barb Ibach of Sumner; grandchildren, Aaron, Ellen, Brett, Briana, Blake, Zac, Issac, Joey, Jillian, Neal, Molly, Sam, Ian, Lauren, Rachel and Colin; great-grandchildren, Brennan, Briar, Braxton, Xander, Reese, Aubrey, Fianna, Lutreo, William and Adeline; and his friend Jane Graham of Columbus.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dale and Carrell; and sister Mae.
The family suggests memorials to the Nebraska Arbor Day Foundation or Columbus First United Methodist Church.