Jerome Ritschel

services with full military honors are Saturday April 15 at noon in the funeral home
My dad was born on November 12, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Dorothy and Julius Ritschel.
Dad joined the navy young, and got his GED and College Credits while serving. He served for over 20 years, and retired as a Chief Petty Officer, Boatswanins mate handler. He worked on the flight decks of aircraft carriers. He served on the USS Enterprise, the USS Kitty Hawk and retired while serving for over 9 years on the USS Ranger. He spent 5 of those years during the Vietnam War.
My dad was a social person. A member of AMVETS, and the American Legion. He was a loving and giving man. Always ready to lend a hand, in any way needed. His hobbies were parting with family and friends, hunting, fishing, golfing and anything that would let him be outdoors. He wanted to be a forest Ranger after retiring from the navy. He was only 39 years old. The college classes were for this dream. Sadly his knees prevented him from doing it.
Dad was preceeded in death by his mother Dorothy Ritschel, father Julius Ritschel, and hi sister Jacqueline Ritschel. He is survived by his wife of 58 years Pam Ritschel, and his daughter Gina, son Mike, grandchildren Donald Ashley, Nicole Ashley, and Jordan Woods, Great grandkids, Logan Ashley, Noah Ashley, and Zoey, Beau Micheal, and Joseph Woods. As well as his twin sister, Jo Danieal, and her family.
Dad was always bring home strays. Whether it was a friend, whos wife kicked him out. (There were too many to count), or a dog or cat that was homeless. These never fazed me. Being the caretaker that he was.
Once, however I woke up to find a strange woman on our back porch. ) We kept a bed there.) I ask her, who she was and what she was doing there? She said; your dad overheard me telling the bartender that I had no place to stay, so he brought me home with him. Though I was used to strange men coming home with dad, having a true stranger who was a lady, did not set well with me... She stayed for a week and was very nice, and did not steal us blind, like I thought she would, tested me mightily.
When dad was in the Navy every Christmas and Thanksgiving he and his friend Tiny, would alternate holidays, and have all the young sailors who could not go home for the holidays to our house. Mom would cook for a week, all home made food, no store bought, and our door would revolve with young sailors coming to eat. They would always tell me how wonder full my dad was. But I knew that. Once a young sailor and I made eye contact, and smiled. Then his friend grabbed him and whisked him away and I heard him say, That is Ciefs daughter!
When I would visit, I'd ask mom where dad was? She would answer, Helping so in so, put on a roof, or helping so in so put on a porch, or helping someone whose family member died.
One time the kids and I came for Independence Day. The next day mom took the kids to Wal-Mart and dad and I were watching a movie. Someone came to the door and told dad that someone up the hills trailer burned down. Dad immediately went to his room and filled a box with food, and he was going through his wallet, counting money then went to help.
This is my dad. A hero, and a good man. He will be greatly missed.