Earl J. Ritter

Earl Ritter, 89, of Beaver Dam and formerly of Horicon, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 19, 2023.

Earl was born on July 19, 1934, in La Crosse WI, the son of Jacob Robert and Viola (Jerue) Ritter. His passion for the visual and performing arts was cultivated in his youth with dance and art lessons. After graduating from Aquinas High School, he began college at UW-L and worked as a shoe salesman at Doerflingers Department Store until he was drafted into the United States Army.

After his military service, he returned to La Crosse to complete his degrees in history and art education. Thanks to his friend Jim Kerrigan, Earl was convinced to join Jim and his future wife Mary Lee, when they set him up on a blind date with Anita Langen.  Earl and Anita celebrated the anniversary of this first date for the next 62 years.  A year after that blind date, Earl and Anita were married in La Crosse on June 2, 1962.

Earl started his teaching career in Alma Center, WI and then he and Anita settled in Horicon, WI where he would spend the next 35 years teaching art, along with directing plays and musicals, coaching forensics, and being the advisor for the Junior Prom and the high school yearbook.

Family and friends were at the center of Earl’s life. Whether it was sitting at a baseball or softball diamond, attending a play and dinner with friends, spending time with his grandchildren creating the perfect Christmas gifts for their parents, or setting someone in a hand of Euchre, Earl lived for special moments with the people he loved.  His grandchildren were his biggest pride and joy and he always made the effort to stay connected to the people he cared about.

Earl’s faith was a very important part of his life and he was an active member of St. Malachy Parish in Horicon and was instrumental in the design of the new church that was built when the Sacred Heart Parish was formed.

His love of the visual and performing arts led Earl to become involved with the Beaver Dam Area Arts Association as a member of the Board of Directors, an exhibit chairperson, and an exhibitor; as well as the Beaver Dam Community Theater, being active on the Board of Directors, directing many summer musicals, and designing the sets for many others.

Surviving Earl are his wife of 61 years, Anita; his children, Cathy (Rich) Loomans, and Mark (Liz McFarland)  Ritter; Grandchildren: Amber (Rufus) Manual, Derek (Grace) Loomans, Holly Loomans, Courtney (Bobbie Stephens) Ritter, and Isaac (Janae) Loomans; and Great Grandchildren: Bella, Jordan, Mia, Giovanni, Charlotte and Noelle; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; cousins; and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his father and mother-in-law Norbert and Marie Langen, and his daughter-in-law Gina Ritter.

Earl was very proud of the number of his students that pursued careers in the arts. He enjoyed following their careers and connecting with them through the years.  To honor his legacy, in lieu of flowers, Earl’s family requests that memorials please be made to the Fond du Lac Area Foundation, 1020 S. Main Street, Suite E, Fond du Lac, WI  54935, or online at https://payv3.xpress-pay.com/org/F1FA1E74C8C0488  for the establishment of a fund that will support visual and performing arts, as well as, arts education in the Horicon and Beaver Dam areas.

Earl’s family welcomes friends and family to Sacred Heart Church, Hwy 33 Horicon, on Monday, November 27th from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Tuesday, November 28th from 10:00 a.m.  –  Noon for a time of visitation followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday at Noon with Father Justin Lopina officiating.