Marietta Josephine (Demuth) Ricke, 89, of Johnston, Iowa returned to her heavenly home on Friday, January 1, 2021. She died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. Marietta died after a courageous battle with dementia.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 7th from 9:00 to 10:00 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 7075 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines IA, immediately followed by a funeral mass at 10:00 AM. The funeral mass will be live-streamed at www.caldwellparrish.com. A graveside service will be at 2:00 PM at Saint John’s Catholic Cemetery in Arcadia, IA.

Marietta was born on January 7, 1931, in Bellwood, Nebraska, the daughter of the late Jacob and Emma (Vermulen) Demuth. Marietta pursued an education degree and graduated from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas, in May 1953.

Upon graduation, Marietta accepted a teaching position in Manning, Iowa where she eventually met her future husband. On June 16, 1956, Marietta was united in marriage to Richard Henry Ricke. They were married at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. Following their marriage, Richard and Marietta made their home south of Westside, Iowa where Richard was engaged in farming and Marietta was a devoted homemaker, teacher, and mother to their six sons.

Marietta was active in her community. She took on various teaching assignments including her role in establishing a preschool program in Vail, IA, continuing to teach well into her 70’s. She also enjoyed gardening, was a member of St. John’s Christian Mothers, the American Legion Auxiliary, as well as usher and rosary leader at St. John’s Catholic Church in Arcadia. Along with Richard, she enjoyed playing cards, socializing with their many friends and following the Iowa State Cyclones.

Marietta is survived by her six sons: Doug (Lori) of Urbandale, IA; Kevin (Geri) of Westside, IA; Tom (Julie) of Clive, IA; Dan of Urbandale, IA; Keith (Darlene) of Vadnais Heights, MN; and Lynn (Stacy) of Waukee, IA. Marietta was blessed with 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters: Berenice Wagner of Dodge City, KS; Sister Emily Demuth of Fresno, CA; and brother Jim (Colleen) Demuth of Aurora, CO; and her sister-in-law Esther Hausman of Halbur, IA as well as many nieces, nephews, friends, and other extended relatives.

Marietta is preceded in death by her husband Richard, her parents; her sister Patricia Demuth as well as brother-in-laws Ralph Ricke, Jerry Wagner, and Clarence Hausman.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Kuemper Catholic Schools Foundation (https://kuemper.org/donate) or the Alzheimer’s Association for dementia research (https://www.alz.org/alzheimer_s_dementia).