Obituary for Zoe Rita Ritzer (MacKenzie)
Zoe Rita Ritzer age 94 of Gladwin passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at The
Brook of Gladwin. Zoe was born September 19, 1928 in Wolverine, Michigan the daughter of John
Ferdinand MacKenzie and Irva Bell (Sly) MacKenzie. Zoe graduated from Midland High School in 1946 as
the class salutatorian. She was united in marriage to Mr. Joseph Ernest Ritzer Jr. on June 26, 1948 at St.
Brigid’s Catholic Church, Midland. Joe preceded Zoe in death July of 1996 after forty-eight years of
marriage.
Zoe had resided on Elbow Lake in Harrison since 1977, moving there from Midland. She loved
living on the lake, feeding and watching hummingbirds, music, was an avid reader and bowler for years
on Dow Chemical league in Midland, and enjoyed golfing. She wintered many years in Dade City, Fl. In
2008 Zoe moved to the Brook in Gladwin.
Surviving Mrs. Ritzer are her four loving children: Joseph Ernest Ritzer III of Harrison and his
partner Laura J. Currie, Mary Sue Gulick and husband Terry of Palm City, Florida, Michael John Ritzer and
wife Leisa of Evart, Michigan and Jean Edna Dolley and husband Alan of Lake City, Michigan, eight
grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren with the fourteenth arriving in September, many nieces,
nephews and extended family members. Zoe also was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Lois,
two brothers: George and John and her daughter-in-law, Karen Ritzer.
Celebration of Life services honoring Zoe will be held Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. from
Clark-Stocking Funeral Chapel and Cremation Center, 165 West Oak Street, Harrison. A time of gathering
and sharing of memories will take place on Thursday, May 25, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. until time of service.
Inurnment will be on Friday, May 26, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Nester Township Cemetery, Roscommon
County. Memorial gifts in memory of Zoe may be considered to: Compassus Hospice or American
Cancer Society. To share an online memory or condolence with Zoe’s family, please visit:
www.clarkstocking.com. Arrangements and care of Mrs. Ritzer and her family are entrusted with Clark-
Stocking Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service (989)539-7810.
Brook of Gladwin. Zoe was born September 19, 1928 in Wolverine, Michigan the daughter of John
Ferdinand MacKenzie and Irva Bell (Sly) MacKenzie. Zoe graduated from Midland High School in 1946 as
the class salutatorian. She was united in marriage to Mr. Joseph Ernest Ritzer Jr. on June 26, 1948 at St.
Brigid’s Catholic Church, Midland. Joe preceded Zoe in death July of 1996 after forty-eight years of
marriage.
Zoe had resided on Elbow Lake in Harrison since 1977, moving there from Midland. She loved
living on the lake, feeding and watching hummingbirds, music, was an avid reader and bowler for years
on Dow Chemical league in Midland, and enjoyed golfing. She wintered many years in Dade City, Fl. In
2008 Zoe moved to the Brook in Gladwin.
Surviving Mrs. Ritzer are her four loving children: Joseph Ernest Ritzer III of Harrison and his
partner Laura J. Currie, Mary Sue Gulick and husband Terry of Palm City, Florida, Michael John Ritzer and
wife Leisa of Evart, Michigan and Jean Edna Dolley and husband Alan of Lake City, Michigan, eight
grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren with the fourteenth arriving in September, many nieces,
nephews and extended family members. Zoe also was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Lois,
two brothers: George and John and her daughter-in-law, Karen Ritzer.
Celebration of Life services honoring Zoe will be held Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. from
Clark-Stocking Funeral Chapel and Cremation Center, 165 West Oak Street, Harrison. A time of gathering
and sharing of memories will take place on Thursday, May 25, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. until time of service.
Inurnment will be on Friday, May 26, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Nester Township Cemetery, Roscommon
County. Memorial gifts in memory of Zoe may be considered to: Compassus Hospice or American
Cancer Society. To share an online memory or condolence with Zoe’s family, please visit:
www.clarkstocking.com. Arrangements and care of Mrs. Ritzer and her family are entrusted with Clark-
Stocking Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service (989)539-7810.