Richard Frank Ritter

Richard (Dick) Frank Ritter, 91, of Grinnell, passed away peacefully May 27, 2025, under hospice care in his home.

Visitation will take place Monday, June 9, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the Grinnell United Methodist Church. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. A graveside service will take place after the funeral at the Hazelwood Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church's Friendship Center following the graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be designated to the Grinnell United Methodist Church. Checks may be mailed in care of Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.

Dick was born Jan. 24, 1934, in Grinnell, IA, to Frank and Helen (Frizzell) Ritter. He was raised in Grinnell with his younger brother, Dennis, and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1952. An accomplished athlete, Dick went on to attend the University of Iowa, where he played basketball for two years. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1956, serving for two years, followed by four years in the National Guard, receiving an honorable discharge in 1962.

Dick married Carolyn Esler May 12, 1957 at the original First Friends Church in Grinnell. Together, they shared 68 years of marriage and raised two sons, Steve and Curt.

In 1962, the family relocated to Eldora, where Dick embarked on a successful career in the sporting goods industry. He owned Dick’s Sporting Goods Store for a few years before serving as president of Dodger Manufacturing, a company known for its athletic clothing and uniforms. He retired in 1996, leaving behind a legacy of integrity and dedication in business. Beyond his professional work, Dick was a passionate supporter of the Eldora community. He was actively involved in fundraising efforts for the local track and auditorium, served as a mentor with the CASA program, and gave back as a youth basketball and baseball coach. An avid outdoorsman, Dick found joy in hunting, canoeing, camping, and woodworking, often sharing these passions with family and friends.

After retirement, Dick and Carolyn returned to Grinnell in 2007, reconnecting with old friends and becoming members of the Grinnell United Methodist Church. Dick was a man of quiet faith and strong values, and his presence in the community was a steady and supportive one.

Family was at the heart of Dick’s life. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whether it was attending their school events, cheering them on at games, watching the play-by-play on his iPad, or simply sitting down for a family meal filled with stories and laughter.

Dick is survived by his wife Carolyn; sons Steve (Karen) Ritter and Curt (Mary) Ritter; grandchildren Briana (Doug) Goodenbour, Ashley (Kyle) Nordeen, Tim (Mary) Ritter, and Hugh (Lia) Ritter; and his great-grandchildren: Aiden, Callen, and Emmett Goodenbour, Grayson, Harper, and Hazel Nordeen, and Raya Ritter.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Helen Ritter; his brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Sue Ritter; and his mother-in-law, Mabel Esler Madill.

Dick will be remembered for his deep love of family, his commitment to faith and community, and the integrity with which he lived every day of his life.