Thomas "Tim" Ritter
March 21st, 1946 to October 23rd, 2014
Thomas “Tim” Ritter, 68, of Fort Gratiot, died unexpectedly Thursday, October 23, 2014 at his cabin in Luzerne.
He was born March 21, 1946 in Port Huron, the son of the late Gerald K. and Mildred C. (Crashley) Ritter. He married Jacqueline E. Kar on April 8, 1972, in St. Christopher Catholic Church, Marysville.
Tim was a 1964 graduate of Port Huron High School, completed a course at Michigan Tech in the Forestry Program, and served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969 and did a tour in Vietnam. He graduated from the Motech Automotive School. He retired from Blue Water Transportation in 2009 after 30 years of service.
He was a member of the American Legion Luzerne Post, Port Huron Power Squadron and Port Huron Scotch Club. He helped to start the Master Recycling Program and was awarded the Port Huron Spirit Award in 1992 for his efforts.
Tim was loved by many, had a great personality, a beautiful smile and could be seen faithfully walking his Black Labs on the streets of Port Huron and Fort Gratiot for over 40 years.
He loved his cabin “Tim’s Tall Timbers” in Luzerne for over 50 years, where he spent many days with friends and family walking, chopping wood and enjoying nature.
Tim enjoyed boating in Lee’s 1928 Chris-Craft in Lake Huron and the St. Clair River and also took several trips boating out of town, including a recent trip to the Finger Lakes in New York. In June, after 50 years, he revisited Isle Royale National Park with his sister and brother-in-law.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; sister, Dr. Susan Ritter and husband Dr. Gregg Sutherland; two brothers-in-law, Louis (Ellie) Kar and Dr. Ronald (Ann) Kar; nieces and nephews, Karen and Kevin Holman, Krista and Mike Harmon, Kathy and Chris Keiser, Kevin and Marie Kar, Kelley and Bob Osterman, Joel and Carie Kar and Christopher and Katherine Kar; 19 great nieces and nephews; special friends, Tiffany, Chris and Rory Francis, Dr’s. Blake and Ryan Stevens; special canine companion, Lily; lifelong friends for over 60 years, Lee and Brenda Stevens, Jeep and Dale Martin, Tom and Susie Marlette and Larry and Wendy Krabach.
Visitation will be from 2 - 8 p.m. Monday, October 27, 2014 in the Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home and Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church. A scripture service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 28, 2014 in St. Mary Catholic Church. The Reverend Zbigniew Zomerfeld will officiate.
Military honors will be conducted under auspices of the U.S. Army and the Veteran’s Honor Guard Alliance
Memorials may be made to Sanborn Gratiot Home Auxiliary, Blue Water Humane Society or the Wounded Warriors Project.
He was born March 21, 1946 in Port Huron, the son of the late Gerald K. and Mildred C. (Crashley) Ritter. He married Jacqueline E. Kar on April 8, 1972, in St. Christopher Catholic Church, Marysville.
Tim was a 1964 graduate of Port Huron High School, completed a course at Michigan Tech in the Forestry Program, and served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969 and did a tour in Vietnam. He graduated from the Motech Automotive School. He retired from Blue Water Transportation in 2009 after 30 years of service.
He was a member of the American Legion Luzerne Post, Port Huron Power Squadron and Port Huron Scotch Club. He helped to start the Master Recycling Program and was awarded the Port Huron Spirit Award in 1992 for his efforts.
Tim was loved by many, had a great personality, a beautiful smile and could be seen faithfully walking his Black Labs on the streets of Port Huron and Fort Gratiot for over 40 years.
He loved his cabin “Tim’s Tall Timbers” in Luzerne for over 50 years, where he spent many days with friends and family walking, chopping wood and enjoying nature.
Tim enjoyed boating in Lee’s 1928 Chris-Craft in Lake Huron and the St. Clair River and also took several trips boating out of town, including a recent trip to the Finger Lakes in New York. In June, after 50 years, he revisited Isle Royale National Park with his sister and brother-in-law.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; sister, Dr. Susan Ritter and husband Dr. Gregg Sutherland; two brothers-in-law, Louis (Ellie) Kar and Dr. Ronald (Ann) Kar; nieces and nephews, Karen and Kevin Holman, Krista and Mike Harmon, Kathy and Chris Keiser, Kevin and Marie Kar, Kelley and Bob Osterman, Joel and Carie Kar and Christopher and Katherine Kar; 19 great nieces and nephews; special friends, Tiffany, Chris and Rory Francis, Dr’s. Blake and Ryan Stevens; special canine companion, Lily; lifelong friends for over 60 years, Lee and Brenda Stevens, Jeep and Dale Martin, Tom and Susie Marlette and Larry and Wendy Krabach.
Visitation will be from 2 - 8 p.m. Monday, October 27, 2014 in the Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home and Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church. A scripture service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 28, 2014 in St. Mary Catholic Church. The Reverend Zbigniew Zomerfeld will officiate.
Military honors will be conducted under auspices of the U.S. Army and the Veteran’s Honor Guard Alliance
Memorials may be made to Sanborn Gratiot Home Auxiliary, Blue Water Humane Society or the Wounded Warriors Project.
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