Joe Ritsch

Joseph “Joe” Richard Ritsch was born Sept 16, 1929 the youngest of seven children to Valentine and Maria Ritsch, in Grants Pass, OR. In his youth he worked on his family dairy farm and in the hop fields in the area.

He graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1948. He served with the US Army in Korea and was discharged from the military in March 1955. He married Shirley Mae Kincaid on July 01, 1956. They had two children, daughter Kathryn Titus of Roseburg and son John Ritsch of Grants Pass.

He worked for Bates Lumber Company until it closed and then as a heavy equipment operator during the construction of Interstate 5. Later he worked with Josephine County Parks, helping to build Tom Pierce, Indian Mary, and Lake Selmac parks.

He restored a 1929 Ford pickup which was purchased new by his father. Joe was a 50-year member of the Model A Ford Club of America. He enjoyed studying Oregon history and was a member of Josephine County Historical Society.

He was passionate about gardening and giving produce to family and friends, planting pumpkins to share at Halloween with his grandchildren as well as neighborhood kids.

After retirement he and his wife made several trips to Europe visiting relatives in Austria. They also traveled to Australia and South Pacific Islands. Many winter months they traveled to Southern California.

He is survived by wife Shirley and children Kathryn and John, as well as six grandchildren Ryan Ritsch, Danielle Mayo, Kelsey Mace, Dr. Eric Titus, Aaron Titus and Anna Titus, as well as great grandchildren Tyoran, Jace, Zella, Finn, Morrison, Lily and Kasey. Proceeded in death by parents Valentine and Maria as well as all six siblings Edward, Henry, Karl, Frank, Elizabeth and Anna.