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Randy G. Ridder

1953 - 2024

 

Randy G. Ridder, age 71, of Klemme, IA, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2024, with his loving wife at his side.

A public Celebration of Randy’s Life will be held Sunday, June 23, 2024, from 1-4 PM, at the Klemme Community Center, 204 East Main Street.  A public graveside service with full military honors will follow in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme.

Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Randy’s name may wish to consider the Klemme United Methodist Church, or St. Croix Hospice, or to their choice. Please dress casually.

Randy Gene Ridder, the son of Roger and Anna Margot (Hesse) Ridder, was born January 28, 1953, at his grandma Ridder’s house in Klemme, IA. In 1954, he and his parents and Monica moved back to Germany, where they lived, and Roger and Margot brought Randy’s sisters Sylvia, Gloria and Sonja into the family. The family then moved back to Klemme in 1964 where they each were educated in the Klemme Community Schools and had to learn English along their journeys. He was baptized and confirmed in the Klemme United Methodist Church.

Randy graduated from Klemme High School in the Class of 1971. He then served in the United States Army from 1972-1975, spending much of his military tenure stationed in Holland where her fulfilled his obligations in the role as a Military Police Officer.

Upon returning to civilian life, Randy lived in Colorado where he was employed in a variety of jobs. In 1981, he moved back to Klemme once again and continued to work in various positions, eventually commencing a 28-year career as a Postal Carrier in Garner, IA, retiring on July 20, 2009.

On June 15, 1985, Randy was united in marriage to Patt Korleski at the Klemme United Methodist Church and they enjoyed their next 39 years together celebrating this milestone two days before his passing.

Randy and Patt’s union brought with it two precious sons into his life, Ryan and Shaun Bonner. He very much enjoyed this newfound role of fatherhood. Randy and Patt lived in Klemme for their entire married life where they also raised their boys.

Randy was a soft-spoken man due in part to a hearing loss, but it was also just a part of his gentle demeanor. He was a man who very much enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. He relished his family and anything that meant spending time in their presence. He cherished his side kick “Buffy”, his trusted and loyal Black Lab companion of 14 years who he could often be seen with, Buffy riding shotgun when Randy was tooling about Klemme and the countryside after a long day at work. It was a routine one could set their clock by on a daily basis. The two were inseparable when they were together. Randy like to relax watching his favorite TV shows often times binge watching NCIS and Blue Bloods to name a couple of them. He also loved to go to his favorite places around the countryside to hunt and harvest wild asparagus.

Randy and Patt had a mutual love for travel. They spent their winters in Florida after they retired and also enjoyed through the years
traveling around Europe, skiing in France and Colorado, Viking cruise in Europe and various other destinations throughout the U.S. Randy had a very competitive nature and had been active in pool leagues around the area and holds several high school football records to this day. He had a mutual love of golf with Patt and the two played countless rounds together along with competing in numerous couple’s tournaments a few of which they had won. He and Patt had been members of both Slippery Elm Golf Course in Klemme and the Garner Golf Course for many years. He was truly a man full of love for his family and for “outsiders”. His warm personality, the twinkle in his eyes and that warm and captivating smile welcomed everyone. He was a genuine sole who loved to share his “Big Hugs!” others often brightening their days with such a simple and heartfelt gesture. A few of the many traits that his family reflected upon when talking about Randy included his generosity, his fun and-loving ways, his sharp intelligence, his ever-present competitive spirit. Randy will leave a void in the hearts of his wife and life partner, Patt, his sons, grandkids, siblings and other family members and friends in so many ways to numerous to mention.

His memory will continue to burn brightly in the hearts and minds of his wife, Patt Ridder, Klemme, IA; sons Ryan (Karrie) Bonner and their children Madisyn and Ayden Bonner, all of Rockwell, IA; and Shaun Bonner and his children Jackson and Jordan Bonner, Cedar Rapids, IA. His sisters: Monica (Paul) Kruse, Onalaska, Wisconsin, Sylvia Shell and Gloria Bittner (Ridder), both of Belmond, IA, and Sonja Ridder, Klemme, IA, along with numerous nieces and nephews and other extended family and friends.

Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Patt’s son Jason Bonner, brothers-in-law Bill and Robert Korleski and Earl Graham, sisters-in-law Bev and Mary Korleski, and of course his four-legged buddy “Buffy” will be waiting for him at the “Gates”.