Obituary of Joan Mary Ritter

Ritter, Joan Mary (Malchine) Joan Ritter died on June 14, 2015 at Fairhaven. She was born on July 28, 1931 in Burlington, WI to Johnalbert and Esther Malchine of Waterford. She was baptized and confirmed at Norway Lutheran Church at Wind Lake. She graduated from Col. Heg State Graded School, Waterford High School, Racine-Kenosha Normal, receiving her Bachelor of Education degree from Wisconsin Teacher�s College-Whitewater and her Master of Education degree from UW-Whitewater. In 1951, Joan began her teaching career at the one-room Apple School in rural Union Grove, followed by positions at Lakeview Grade School at Wind Lake, Purdy Elementary at Fort Atkinson, Lincoln Elementary at Whitewater and Palmyra Elementary for a total of 31 years as an educator. On June 11, 1955, Joan married Edward Ritter at Norway Lutheran Church, Wind Lake. They first lived at Rochester, Wisconsin and in 1957 moved to Whitewater. They became the parents of three sons: Michael, Phillip and Stephen. Joan took an active role in her church, First English Lutheran in Whitewater, where she served in various capacities over time. These included choir member, accompanist, organist, Sunday school teacher, children�s choir director, the women�s organizations, and committees on music and education. She also served four years as coordinator of the Women of the ELCA-Elkhorn Conference. Currently, Joan was a member of First English Lutheran Church and Peace Circle, Emerson Club, Walworth County Area Retired Educators and Wisconsin Retired Educators. Her greatest joy was spending time with her seven grandchildren, hiking around the pond, going to family camp at Lutherdale, reading or singing to them, playing games and sharing with them her love of God�s creation-especially deer and sand hill cranes. Surviving Joan are her husband Ed, her three sons and their families: Michael (Susan) and their children-Nicholas, Bryan, and Lauren of Sussex, Phillip (Karin) and their sons David and Jacob of Menomonee Falls, Stephen (Camille) and their sons Bryce and Theodore of Muskego, a sister-Donna Hanson of Union Grove, a sister-in-law-Doris Malchine of Waterford, a niece-Karen Hanson, and three nephews-James Hanson, J. Michael Malchine and Kevin Malchine, other relatives and friends. Joan�s parents, her brother John Lee Malchine, her nephew David Hanson, and brother-in-law Donald Hanson predeceased her. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at First English Lutheran Church in Whitewater. Visitation before the service from 9 - 11 a.m. at First English. Memorials suggested to First English Lutheran Church or Lutherdale Bible Camp. Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater is assisting the family, www.nitardyfuneralhome.com Thanks to Fairhaven Second Floor Staff and Rainbow Hospice for their compassionate care.