Pauline A. Ritter, 90, of Burlington, and formerly of Fort Madison, passed away at 12:47 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, at Addington Place in Burlington.
She was born on July 16, 1934, in Troy, Ill. to Merlin and Viola Buettikoffer Anderson. On June 10, 1952, she married Ralph George Ritter in St. Jacob, Ill. and he preceded her in death on Oct. 30, 2016. Pauline, along with her husband Ralph owned and operated Ritter’s Garden Center in Ft. Madison for twenty-one years and later in West Burlington.
Pauline was a former member of St. John United Church of Christ in Fort Madison and currently the First Christian Church in Burlington. Pauline and Ralph loved to travel and did so extensively throughout Europe; they had been to most of the countries there, including England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Estonia, Denmark, and Russia. They traveled to Austria, New Zealand, the Fiji Islands, and around South America through the Straits of Magellan and around Cape Horn. She was also very proud that she was able to visit all 50 states, including her last one, Utah, at the age of eighty-five. Pauline enjoyed playing bridge, and she always loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include one daughter, Patricia (Cliff) Boyke of Lakemoor, Ill.; one son, Stephen (Lynn) Ritter of Burlington; six grandchildren, Nicholas (Ashley) Richardson, Christopher (Jesse) Ritter, Nathan (Cindy) Richardson, Ryan (Jacque) Ritter, Kathlene (Greg) Richardson-DuBose & Amanda (Chris) Ritter Brown; fourteen great-grandchildren; one brother, George Anderson of St. Jacob, Ill.; two sisters, Genevieve Armstrong of Alamogordo, N.M. and Mary Anderson of King George, Vir.; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
The funeral service for Pauline will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Burlington with Rev. David Yonker officiating. The family will meet with friends from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Her burial will be held at Keokuk National Cemetery.
A memorial has been established for the First Christian Church and online condolences may be left at www.kinglynk.com