Obit: Rittenhouse, John D. (1913 – 1976)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Rittenhouse, Groenewold, Becker, Zager, Strohkirch, Missling, Albert, Cizek, Schwenke, Orlando, Gualnala, Columbus, Gilman, Berchem

---------Source: Owen Enterprise (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 14 Apr 1976

Rittenhouse, John D. (13 May 1913 – 12 Apr 1976)

Funeral services for John Duane Rittenhouse, 62, Owen businessman who lost his life in a tragic accident early Sunday evening, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15, 1976 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Withee. Officiating will be the Rev. Douglas Groenewold, parish pastor. Burial will follow at the Riverside Cemetery, Withee.

Visitation can be made at the Kraut-Maurina Funeral Home, Owen, after 4:00 p.m. today.

Serving as pallbearers will be Elwin Becker, Duane Zager, Clarence Strohkirch, Allan Missling, C. O. Albert and Ed Cizek.

John Duane Rittenhouse, who was killed instantly in a car-pickup truck crash that occurred at 7:30 Sunday evening on Country Truck A in Taylor County, about one mile east of the Redville store, was born May 13, 1913 in Thorp. He was two years of age when his parents moved to Withee, and he was education in that school system. For years he was employed at the former Griebenow Company here and then started his own plumbing and heating business 35 years ago.

On August 25, 1940 he and the former Pearl Schwenke were united in marriage in a ceremony performed in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was a former member of the Owen Businessmen’s Club, an avid sportsman, being an active participant in both gun and archery hunting, as well as enjoying the fishing seasons.

His untimely death is mourned by a host of friends who share the sorrow of his wife; a son Jack, Chippewa Falls; three brothers, Earl Rittenhouse, Morris Rittenhouse and Wesley Rittenhouse, all of Salem, Oregon; and five sisters, Mrs. John (Audrey) Orlando, Orlando, Florida, Mrs. Anthony (Fanny) Gualnala, Los Angeles, Calif., and Mrs. Frieda Columbus, Mrs. Wilmer (Vera) Gilman and Mrs. Albert (Beatrice) Berchem, all of Salem, Oregon.