Obituary of Gloria J. Ritchie

Gloria J. Ritchie, age 76 of Solon, formerly longtime resident of North Liberty died Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics – North Liberty Campus after being stricken suddenly.

Funeral services will be held at 11am Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at the St.Johns Lutheran Church in Ely, where there will be a time of visitation beginning at 9am until the service time at the church.  Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her honor to St. John’s Lutheran Church of Ely.  To share a thought, memory or condolence with her family please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service website @ www.gayandciha.com.

Gloria Jean Jessip was born July 1, 1949, in Sioux City, Iowa the daughter of Douglas and Donna (Clausen) Jessip.  Following graduation from Riverside High School in Sioux City, she attended Wayne State University and later graduating from Coe College with her BSN degree.  She was united in marriage to Gerald J. Ritchie on April 5, 1969, in Sioux City.

Gloria worked for many years for the telephone company of Northwestern Bell and ATT before entering the nursing profession.  Once a nurse she worked for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Iowa City and also Iowa City Rehabilitation Center.  Gloria enjoyed much in her life, from simply watching her games shows, reading a good book, listensing and dancing to the 70’s rock and roll, travels to Mexico, visiting with her friends from Canada, but nothing compared to her love and joy that she knew with her family, they were everything to her!

Her family includes her husband, Jerry; daughters, Denise Calef (Jim) and Jean Ritchie; two grandsons, Jamie and Jason Calef; siblings, Gregg Jessip (Clydene Briggs), Larry Jessip and Betsy Surber

She was preceded in death by her father, Douglas Jessip, mother and step-father, Donna and Sam Ellyson, and infant brother, Chucky Jessip.