Elaine Witschger Ricker

---- — BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — Irma Elaine Witschger Ricker, 79, beloved wife of Edwin Donald Ricker, passed away Jan. 10, 2012, in Bonita Springs, Fla., after a brief but courageous battle with stomach cancer.Elaine was the cherished daughter of Edgar and Irma Witschger and lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, until attending Miami University in Oxford, where she graduated with a B.A. degree in education. She met Ed at Miami, and they were wed upon her graduation in 1954. She continued to pursue her love and concern for sound educational curriculum and was later elected president of the school board of the Grand Blanc Community School systems. Elaine will be remembered for her passion for entertaining, travel, gardening, cooking, arts and crafts, Bible study and bringing friends and family together. Most of all, Elaine loved Glen Lake, pontoon boat rides and sunsets over the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Lake Michigan. She will be fondly remembered by friends in the Glen Arbor Garden Club and the Glen Arbor Women's Club. Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 57 years, Edwin; daughters, Kimberly Cramer, of Vermontville, Shawn Ricker of New York, N.Y., and Darci Ricker of Bedford, Mass.; grandchildren Stephani Cramer, Gretchen Cramer, James Cramer and Kacie Cramer; and sons-in-law, Steven Cacossa and Jim Cramer.The family will receive friends and family on Thursday, Jan. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m., and Friday, January 20, from 10 to 11 a.m., with a memorial service immediately following at 11 a.m., at the Glen Lake Community Reformed Church, 4902 West MacFarlane Road, Glen Arbor, MI 49636. A luncheon will follow Friday's service. There will also be springtime services in Glen Arbor and Estero, Fla., in celebration of Elaine's life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Deacon's Community Care Fund of the Glen Lake Community Reformed Church at the same address. Sunsets are so beautiful that they almost seem as if we were looking through the gates of Heaven (John Lubbock). Mom/Elaine, we will always see you there. Thank you for your legacy, your passion for life, friends and family, and most of all, for your unconditional love. Kindly share your memories with the family on their online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.Arrangements were made with the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI 49684.

Elaine Witschger Ricker

January 10, 2012