Elsie Hazel Rittscher, daughter of Fred C. and Minnie (Marwood) Cooley, was born January 21, 1924 in Elgin Township, NE. She entered into eternal rest on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at Pleasant View Care Center in Whiting, IA at the age of 92.
Elsie grew up and attended school in Clearwater, NE. She graduated from Clearwater High School with the Class of 1941. Following high school, she attended Midland College in Fremont, NE for one year then began working at the bank in Neligh, NE.
On August 21, 1943, Elsie was united in marriage to Martin Paul Rittscher in Neligh. After their marriage, they made their home in Neligh and Norfolk, NE then moved to Sloan, IA in the spring of 1955 where she resided until 2001, moving then to Kismet, KS. Recently, she lived at Pleasant View Care Center in Whiting.
During her working years, Elsie worked at the Hornick State Bank and Hubbard Milling, retiring in the early 1980’s.
Elsie enjoyed quilting, crosswords, gardening, walking, volunteering at her church and working around and on her home. She was a member of the Community Church of Christ in Sloan, Women’s Guild at the church and Order of the Eastern Star.
Elsie is survived by her children: Tom (Pat) Rittscher of Webster City, IA, Keith Rittscher of Palm Bay, FL, Larry (Gale) Rittscher of Sioux Rapids, IA, Jerrie Folkers of Sloan, IA, Don (Carol) Rittscher of Kismet, KS and Patty (Marlin) Bainbridge of Parker, CO; 18 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; three sisters: Marjorie Hecox of Omaha, NE, Mary Jane (Sid) Magdanz of Omaha, NE and Jane McIntyre of Grand Island, NE; sister-in-law, Thelma (Robert) Cooley of Norfolk, NE; and many nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Martin on March 30, 1982; one daughter, Jeanette Lynch; one daughter-in-law, Diane Rittscher; one brother, Robert Cooley and one brother-in-law, Thomas McIntyre.