Mary Ritzman
January 9, 1957 ~ September 8, 2018
Mary Ritzman, 61, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died unexpectedly on Saturday, September 8, 2018. Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Visitation: 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 with Vigil at 4 p.m. at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, and one hour prior to service at the church. Burial: Rose Hill Cemetery, Mechanicsville, Iowa.
Survivors include her husband, John; children, Emily Ann Ritzman, and Daniel Joseph (Jessica Engbretson) Ritzman; grandchildren, Ethan Ritzman, Austin Damisch, Jackson Damisch, Riley Damisch, and Kayson Ritzman; siblings, Bonnie Spratte of Rapid City, South Dakota, Don (Judy) Spratte, Jim (Pam) Spratte, and Dennis Spratte all of Cedar Rapids; and several in-laws, nieces and nephews.
Mary Luann was born on January 9, 1957, in ��Vinton, Iowa, the daughter of William and Emma (Sellers) Spratte. She graduated from Lincoln Community High School in Stanwood with the class of 1975. On June 11, 1977, she married John Ritzman at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mechanicsville. Throughout her life, Mary was strong in her faith, listening to Catholic Radio religiously.
She was a dedicated employee of Evergreen Packaging for the last 42 years. Only taking vacation for one of the family or when told she had to, she was highly respected and devoted to her job. Mary will be remembered as an avid reader, and worker of solitaire and crossword puzzles. She loved her 'furr kids,' gardening especially for the butterflies, and most of all, her family.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; brother, William Spratte; and niece, Darla Moander Spratte.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
There will be 4 birthday a year that I will be there for both of us, giving a ln extra hug, an extra kis. But it will never fill the hole that you leave behind in their lives or mine. I just heard last week, we get so wrapped up in own lives. You were so special to all of us and will be so missed
Mary and I were very close. We said at one time that we were like sisters, since neither one of us had one. I was married to Mary’s youngest brother Dennis from the age of 17. We were married for 21 years, and Mary and I were close in age as well as close because Emma, Mary, and I did a lot of things together, and John, Mary, Dennis, and I spent many evenings and weekends doing things together. Then we kind of drifted apart, as people do in our busy lives. Moving and relocating.I last saw Mary 5 years ago when she and John attended the graduation party of my eldest grandchild Bryant. Mary was as full of laughter and stories and memories as she had always been. It was if things had not changed at all. You know it is nice to see people who you haven’t seen for a number of years, and be able to pick up as if a day hadnt even passed. And I realized, that is what a true family was all about. Not the number of days that were spent with one another in total in one’s lifetime, but the ability to know that one another are close by and the next time we see them, will be as if no time at all has passed. Mary, salute, and till we see each other the next time. Love you Sis.
I was so surprised to see that Mary has passed away. I guess I have a hard time realizing our class is reaching that age. When our family first moved to Mechanicville, our association with the Catholic church began, and I think that is also where I met Mary, not thinking here was my new childhood best friend. Our first journey into friendship came on a school field trip when we discovered we were the only ones who liked, no loved, peanutbutter and dill pickle sandwiches. All the other kids thought we were weird, but we knew it was a special club! So began our wonderful memories, overnights, secrets, in cahoots with one another. Some of our best memories happened at St. Mary’s. Over the years, we grew old enough to volunteer to “sing” in the choir, supposedly to perform with our golden voices, but really an excuse to ditch our families and be away from our parent’s strict, eagle eyes. Many times we’d sit in the back of the choir room with other friends, something, or nothing, would strike us as hilarious, and off we’d go. Just couldn’t stop laughing! Genevieve, the organist, would give us the stink eye, but that didn’t stop us. After mass Father Casey would show up, chastising us, kick us out of the choir room for a time. Boy were we in big trouble with our parents. We would suffer having to sit with our families for a few weeks, then slowly sneak back to the choir room. Repeating the cycle for years. Bittersweet times from long ago. My thoughts, prayers, and good memories go out to you all. Sincerely, Monica Randolph Jamison
I miss you Nana