Anna Marie "Ree" Hoesly Ritzen, 100, of Estes Park died on Saturday, March 26, 2022, in Estes Park.

A memorial and inurnment service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at First Lutheran Church in Kearney.

Ree was born April 15, 1921, in Platte County to Peter and Barbara (Elmer) Hoesly. She was baptized April 17, 1921, and confirmed April 28, 1935, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Creston. Anna Ree, as she was known then, spent her childhood on the family farm outside of Creston and had great stories to tell about the chickens and her pet lamb. After graduating from Creston High, she attended Midland University (then College) in Fremont, where she participated in basketball, Tri Phi sorority, Cardinal Key, and the Midland Choir. Ree met Ralph Ritzen while they were both students at Midland when he was playing the piano in her dorm lounge, and they were married on Dec. 27, 1944. She taught elementary school in Fremont before Ralph was called to serve two churches in Pilger and Stanton. In 1953 they moved back to Fremont where they lived for 26 years. Ree served as the Superintendent of Sunday School at Salem Lutheran and was active in the women's groups at church and Midland. Over the years, Ralph and Ree enjoyed camping in Rocky Mountain National Park. Ree had an extensive knowledge of the flowers and birds and enjoyed identifying them on their hikes, doing her best to interest her children. There had to be a hummingbird feeder no matter where they camped. After moving to Estes Park permanently in 2019, she was able to observe the birds every day as she ate her meals. The love of the mountains was passed on to their children and grandchildren who looked forward to their special times in the RV. Ree started oil painting at age 65, often painting mountain scenes and flowers. For her 80th birthday, she jumped out of an airplane. She created innumerable counted cross stitch pictures for friends and relatives, sewing every day until she couldn't, and reading over 300 books in between. Celebrating her 100th birthday in 2021 with family and hearing from so many friends and even the mayor and governor was a highlight during the pandemic. Ree did her devotions faithfully every morning which was a reflection of her deep and abiding faith of nearly 101 years.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law Ann and DJ Knipping of Estes Park, Colorado; son and daughter-in-law Bob and Patti Ritzen of Longmont, Colorado; grandchildren Michael Walker of Omaha, Erik Ritzen of Edgewood, Maryland, Ethan Ritzen of Helena, Montana and Molly (Evan) Zamora of Lafayette, Colorado; sister-in-law, Anita Brand of Lincoln; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Norman and LaVonne Ritzen of Tucson, Arizona; and many nieces and nephews and their children.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 73 years Ralph; brother and sister-in-law, Elmer and Pearl Hoesly; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Richard and Ellen Hansen, Leander and Jean Ritzen, and brother-in-law Myron Brand; granddaughter, Emily Ritzen; nephew, Rick Hansen; and nieces Rebecca Hansen-Garcia and Sandy Casey.

Memorials are suggested to First Lutheran Church in Kearney; the Rev. Dr. Ralph L. and Mrs. Ree Ritzen Scholarship at Midland University; or Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church in Estes Park.

Published by Kearney Hub on May 20, 2022.