Albert Joe Rittgers

On November 28, 2023, Albert Joe Rittgers passed away while living in Kerrville. Joe was born on April 20, 1937 in Corpus Christi, Texas to Robert Chester and Kathleen L. Emmert Rittgers.  He was the only child of this union.

Jow married his first wife, Sharon Gill Rittgers in 1960, and they had but one child, Laura Rittgers Creaser, who was born in 1962. He is survived by his wife Cecelia M. Young Rittgers; his daughter, Laura Rittgers Creaser of Austin; step-daughters, Kerri McKenzie of Gilbert, AZ; Jodi Dyce of Greenwood Village, CO; five grandchildren, Kyle, Courtney, Kelsey and Kayla McKenzie and Cooper Dyce. He is also survived by his cousin Charlotte Emmert Freeman of Beeville and her husband Leeland.

Joe attended Menger elementary, Wynn Seale Junior High, and W.B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi.  He graduated from Ray in 1956, and attended Del Mar College. While in school in Corpus Christi, he became friend with a small group of girls and guys who all remained very close until his passing.

Joe’s parents divorced while he was very young, so he was raised by the three women in his life at the time, his grandmother Bertha Campbell Emmert, his aunt Marion Emmert Williams and his mother Kathleen.  All three of them worked very hard to support him the best they could.  Albert Joe was always a hard worker, and he started working at a very young age. He left college early to work and support himself.

He spent his working life with several large companies including Superior Oil in Corpus Christi, Houston natural Gas, Brown and Root and Shell Oil in Houston. He moved to Denver, CO in 1968 to work for Stearns & Rogers. His last job was with Wesco Fabrics in Denver where he was vice president of contract sales.

Joe always loved the outdoors, and he had many hobbies. He fished, golfed, enjoyed woodworking, pottery and working in his yard. Joe retired in 1998 in Denver after the death of his second wife of twenty years, Sharon Weiss Rittgers, and he returned home to his beloved Texas where he met his wife Cecelia Young Rittgers, and lived until he passed away.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Kerrville Funeral Home.