Jan. 15, 2019 – Rubicon, WI – Jeffrey David Ritger, “Jeff,” 54, of Rubicon, Wisconsin passed away peacefully after a courageous 3-month battle with lung cancer on Sunday, January 13, 2019 at the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton.
Jeff was born December 6, 1964 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hartford to Judith A. “Judy” (nee Werner) and Robert L. “Bob” Ritger. Jeff graduated Hartford Union High School, class of 1983. He was united in marriage to Penny A. Lehner on August 1, 1992 at the Riviera in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jeff owned and operated Dave’s Lanes bowling alley along with his uncle John Ritger since 1983. Earlier in life Jeff and Penny enjoyed many camping trips “up-north” with friends, fishing, ice-fishing, and being out on the water. Jeff enjoyed gardening, lived for bowling, enjoyed music (especially Pink Floyd), scratch-off lottery tickets, antiquing, traveling WI, and going all out decorating for Halloween and putting on a light show for Christmas. He also was a lover of animals and enjoyed maintaining his yard and koi pond.
Jeff is survived by his cherished wife and best friend, Penny; loving sister, Jeni (John) Borzick; dear siblings-in-law, Peter (Teri) Lehner, Pam (Keith) Pirlot, Paul (Deann) Lehner, and Peggy (John) Oldenburg; and dear uncles and aunts, Dick (Judy), Dave “Butch” (Shirley), and John (Laura Hamm) Ritger, and David (Susan) Werner. He is further survived by many loved nieces, nephews, cousins, other loved relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Grace (nee Haldeman) and Norbert Lehner; dear fur-children, dogs: Scooby, Sassy, Bullet and cat: Tigger.
Jeff’s family has coordinated a celebration of Jeff’s life and memorial gathering, Sunday, February 10, 2019, 11:00a.m. – 3:00p.m. at Dave’s Lanes (218 N. Main Street Hartford, WI 53027).
A private committal will take place in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Hartford.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jeff’s name (in care of Penny Ritger) to the Hartford Food Pantry, Washington County Humane Society, or to Lung Cancer Research- American Lung Association, are sincerely appreciated.