Obit: Ritzert, Leonard Eugene (1953- 2019)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Ritzert, Kraft, Kleckner. Beach, Dworak, Schnulle, Luetschwager, Berg, Naedler, Kayhart

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 11/20/2019

Ritzert, Leonard Eugene (24 November 1953 – 13 November 2019)

Leonard Ritzert, age 65, of Granton, died, after a long and courageous battle with multiple health Challenges, Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire.

Leonard Eugene Ritzert was born to Howard and Evelyn (Kraft) Ritzert at home on November 24, 1953 in Solon Mills, IL. He attended school in Richmond, IL and then enjoyed truck driving throughout his life. On May 10, 1986 he married the love of his life, Kathy Kleckner. Len liked watching westerns and John Wayne movies. He loved playing cards and sharing his truck driving stories. For many years, Len enjoyed helping the Naedler family with field work.

He loved spending time with his family and extended family when truck driving and later in life when his health allowed.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Kathy Ritzert, three children, Andy (Tora) Ritzert, Amy Beach and Jen (Alex) Dworak, six grandchildren, Jelani, Aiden and Daniel Ritzert, Nicholas (Andrea) and Joshua Beach and Harper Dworak. He is further survived by four sisters and three brothers, a former son-in-law, Joe Beach, Mother and Father-in-law, Wayne and Annette Kleckner, brothers and sister-in-law, Kevin (Cathi) Kleckner, Paul Schnulle, Phil (Charlene) Schnulle and Julie (Jeff) Luetschwager, several nieces and nephews and special family friends, Travis, Debi, Nathan, Preston and Brady Berg.

He is preceded in death by his parents, two infant brothers, a sister, a grandson and mother and father-in-law, Larry & Sharon Schnulle.

Funeral Services for Len will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Neillsville. Pastor Ken Kayhart will officiate. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday and from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Tuesday at the Gesche Funeral Home.

Memorials may be directed to Leonard’s family, P.O. Box 116, Granton, WI 54436.

Online Condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting Leonard’s family with Funeral arrangements.