Dale Ritz

Dale Ritz age 85 of Bonaparte, passed away January 8, 2022, at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics.

Visitation for family & friends will be 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 14, 2022, at Behner Funeral Home. Graveside service at Memorial Lawn will follow at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Danny Cary officiating.

Memorials may be made to the family and mailed to Patricia Ritz, 22520 RTW 40, Bonaparte, Iowa 52620.

Dale was born February 1, 1936, in Jefferson County to Guy Elbridge and Edna Martha (Roberts) Ritz.  He married Iwanda Rayfield Hoage on April 2, 1960, and she passed away March 13, 1995.  Dale was blessed to find love again and married Patricia Ann Zachmeyer on November 11, 1998.

Dale served in the Army and worked as a foundry worker in the maintenance department at Iowa Malleable, Dexter and Falco.  He was a hard worker, liked to tinker on anything that wasn’t working right until it was fixed.  He liked John Deere and Fords.  Most important was spending time with family and friends.

Dale will be missed by his wife, Patricia; 5 kids, Pamilla Blakley, Fairfield, IA, Felicia (Lee) Graham, Fort Wayne, IN, Tawny Essary-Wood, Dallas City, IL, Shari (Keith) Durand, Dallas City, IL and Christy (Jay) Moody, Fort Wayne, IN; 17 grandchildren; numerous great grandkids; four sisters; and one brother.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Edna; 1st wife, Iwanda; one son, Elsworth Cook Jr.; two brothers; and two sisters.