SIOUX CITY -- Larry J. Ritzer, 69, of Sioux City died Thursday, April 2, 2009, at a Sioux City hospital after a short battle with lung cancer.
Services will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dan Guenther of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to
www.christysmith.com
.
Larry was born on Feb. 13, 1940, in Sioux City, the son of Arthur and Violet (Baker) Ritzer. He had been a lifetime resident of Sioux City except for 21 months living in Burlington, Colo. He graduated from East High School, attended classes at Morningside College, attained his CPCU in the insurance industry and various classes with the U.S. Navy.
He married Carol A. Shove on April 28, 1962, in Sioux City. Larry had worked at Swift Packing with his father, Arthur, for a few years; sold insurance as an independent agent for many years; owned the Kingsley Bowl; owned Stevens Tastee Inn & Out; and for the past 15 years had owned Jarvis Janitorial.
He was active in many bowling leagues around the city and for the past 15 years bowled in the Nationals Bowling Tournament. He loved fishing and traveling with his family. He loved his grandchildren and gave each one a special nickname. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and had served aboard the U.S.S. Independence. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife, Carol; two daughters, Rhonda Lewis and fiance, Larry LeClair and Rachele and husband, Jimmy Murphy, all of Sioux City; five grandchildren, Justin, Keaton, Brenden, Fletcher and Caitlin; four brothers, Tom and Karen Ritzer, Richard Ritzer and Bob and Cathy Ritzer, all of Arnolds Park, Iowa, and Jim Retzer of Metairie, La.; and a sister, Sharon Rider of Russellville, Ark.; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.