William N. Ritter Jr.

It is with profound sadness that I share the passing of my beloved husband, William "Bill" Nelson Ritter Jr., age 62, of Wakefield, Kansas. He left us on October 4, 2025, at the Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, Utah. He was born on August 23, 1963, in Oneida, New York, the son of Karan Betty Sprinkle and Will Nelson Ritter Sr.
William graduated from Madison Central High School in the class of 1981. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army. After his service, he worked as an over-the-road truck driver for over thirty years. William was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Wakefield.
When at home, his hobbies included growing his own fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes. He also loved to barbeque, where he made the best fall-off-the-bone ribs. William will be remembered by his gentle heart and smile that lit up the world.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Karan Betty Johnson.
William is survived by his wife, Tracy Ritter, of Wakefield; his two sisters, Anne Christ and her husband Tim of Knoxboro, New York, and Billie Cresswell of Virginia Beach, Virginia; also, his many nieces and nephews.
The family will greet friends during a visitation on Wednesday October 22, 2025, from 6:00 until 7:30p.m. at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan.
Funeral services will be held at the Wakefield Methodist Church, 408 6th Street in Wakefield. Interment will be held at 1:00p.m. at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery at Fort Riley in Manhattan on Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations may be made to the Truckers Final Mile. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com