Diana (McKivergan) Rittscher |
| Posted 2016-04-12 by Gayle Nelson |
| Diana Kathleen McKivergan Rittscher, 69, formerly of Ponca, passed away peacefully on October 7, 2015, at her home in Palm Bay, FL, after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. Celebration of life services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 24, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ponca, NE, followed by a luncheon in the church basement after which the ashes will be interred in Calvary at South Creek Cemetery in Ponca. Diana was born in Sioux City, IA, on May 2, 1946, to Frank Matthew McKivergan and his wife, Margaret Kathleen "Kay" McKivergan, the third of their four children. Frank and Kay raised their children on the McKivergan farm in rural Ponca, NE. During her high school years, Diana was a cheerleader and majorette. Through her life, Diana continued to be a cheerleader and source of encouragement to all who knew her. In 1964, Diana graduated from Ponca High School and she continued her education at Wayne State College. Diana married her first husband, Richard Odle, in 1965, and they had three children, Kimberly, Keith, and Kristin, during their 15 year marriage. On June 5, 1993, Diana married her soulmate, Keith Rittscher, and they lived in McCook Lake, SD, before moving to Palm Bay, FL. Diana was always very social and active in many organizations including the American Business Woman's Association, Isaac Walton League, Siouxland Ski Club, Red Hat Society, and she was an ambassador for the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. She was known for her keen business sense, her kind heart, and her adventurous spirit. She loved attending dances, plays, and musicals, playing cards, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Her fearless nature also led her to enjoy parasailing, scuba diving, and skiing. Ever the bargain hunger, Diana loved a good sale. She is survived by her adoring husband, Keith Rittscher; children, Kimberly Nodier and her husband, Charles of Palm Bay, Keith Odle of Indialantic, FL, and Kristin Dreeszen and her husband, Justin of Jackson, NE; grandchildren, Kelsi Stoos, Kai Odle, and Charlie Nodier; brothers, James McKivergan and his wife, Glenna and Timothy McKivergan and his wife, Gwen; sister, Lois and her husband, Gary Wilson; stepdaughters, Rebecca and her husband, Scott Sherrick, Rhona Rittscher, and Erin and her husband Sean Thorton; plus many beloved nieces, nephews, stepgrandchildren and great-stepgrandchildren. Diana was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Kay McKivergan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ponca or toward a memory bench to be placed in Holiday Park, the site of Keith and Diane Rittscher's home. Diana's manta was "Spread Kindness", which she did wherever she went. All who knew her are asked to "pay it forward" by continuing to do kind acts for others in her memory. (Note by author - Diana and Diane were both used as names so am not sure which name should appear - I used Diana) |