OTTA RITZMAN

Otta  Ritzman, 96, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center.

 She was born February 4, 1928, in Lee, Illinois, the daughter of Otto and Vina (Jacobson) Rygh. Otta married Allyn Ritzman on December 4, 1948, in Lee.

Otta graduated valedictorian from Shabbona High School in 1945. She was employed at GE for 35 Years.  She was a member of First Lutheran Church in DeKalb for many decades. She loved to sing, hum and occasionally Yodel.  Many family times were spent playing cards and Blitz was a favorite of Otta’s.

Otta was a prolific baker.  There was rarely a day in the Ritzman household without a cookie jar full of Chocolate Chip Cookies sitting on the counter. She was “DeKalb County” renowned for her Norwegian Coffee Cake and Apple Squares.

So the next time you pull something delicious out of your oven, please think of Otta. She would like that.

She is survived by her children Linda (Louise Moore), Roger (Barb)Ritzman, Carol (Jon) Victor, Nancy (Mike) Wayman, Sue Sokolowsi (Chris Wolfert); her grandchildren; her great-grandchildren; her son-in-law Allen Bark.

She was preceded in death by her husband Allyn and her daughter Diane Bark.

A Private Memorial Service will be held at First Lutheran Church, with Rev. Dr. Janet Hunt officiating. Interment of cremated remains, Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the First Lutheran Church in memory of Otta Ritzman in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115.

For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.

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