Daniel "Dan" Patrick Ritter

Daniel Patrick “Dan” Ritter III, 71, of Stilwell, Kansas passed away unexpectedly on August 2, 2023 at home. He was born on October 5, 1951, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Daniel Patrick Ritter Jr and Maxine Frances (Kirk) Ritter. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Janet Sue “Jan" (Channell) Ritter, both of his parents, and a sister Ora “Danice” (Ritter) McClendon. He is survived by his sons Daniel (Robyn) Ritter IV, Richard (Theresa) Ritter, and Ryan Ritter; grandchildren Kyler, Sophia, Madeline, Joshua, Liam, and Levi; brothers Mike, Shon, and Brian Ritter and sister Connie (Ritter) Wright. Dan grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, attending Holy Name elementary school (Rosedale neighborhood) followed by Argentine Jr/Sr High School (Class ’69), where he met the love of his life, Jan. They married August 7, 1971 after their sophomore year in college, and both subsequently graduated from Wichita State University, where Dan earned his BA in Industrial Education while lettering in both track and football. Dan's high school teaching and coaching career took he and his family from Kansas City KS (Harmon and Turner High Schools) to Miami AZ then to San Diego CA. Dan then moved to collegiate coaching while in San Diego (University of San Diego) and then Terre Haute IN (Indiana State University). After a stint in FL, Dan returned to Kansas City and the high school classroom, coaching, and the establishment of a high school robotics team (the Metal Mustangs – Blue Valley School System), first at Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park KS, followed by Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park KS, and retiring from Blue Valley CAPS. Over the years, Dan coached and mentored thousands of high school and college students. A “builder" at heart, and in addition to all the traditional things he built, Dan built a strong family, athletic community, and program of student success. There will be a memorial visitation with the family on Friday, December 8, 2023 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Maple Hill Funeral Home in the Argentine area (3300 Shawnee Dr., KCKS 66106). Funeral services will be held at Queen of the Holy Rosary – Wea (22779 Metcalf Rd. Bucyrus, KS 66013) on Saturday, December 9 at 9 AM. A private family inurnment was previously held in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Children’s Mercy Childhood Diabetes Center Kansas City (www.childrensmercy.org/ways-to-give).

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Daniel "Dan" Patrick Ritter

October 5, 1951 - August 2, 2023