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The contents of the “Weekly Feature” page are
provided to you for your entertainment, amusement, and perhaps
information. Here you may find articles of interest, pictures,
historical information on the Club, or whatever shuffles to the top of
the pile on our desk. The only defined characteristic of this space is
that we will make every effort to change/replace it around the middle
of each week. Thank you for visiting, and please stop by again. Click
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ORIGINALLY FEATURED JANUARY 17,
2008
Member Profile
"Walt"
A year ago, when the “Weekly Feature” page was begun,
this was one of the ideas that I thought would be fun, informative, and
worth-while. When I finally got around to doing it, my prediction was
confirmed. This is the first attempt at profiling one of our members,
but hopefully not the last. Given the particulars, I think most will
agree this was a logical place to start. The only flaw in my logic is
the fact almost everyone in the club already knows the subject, but
maybe we can fill out his resume’ with a few more details.
A little background to start, Founding Member Walt
Ritenburg was born Feb. 7th, 1934, just about a half mile from where he
now resides, just across the corner from our showgrounds. At only 3
pounds and a few ounces, his incubator was a cigar box on top of
Grandma’s heat register, he was told. Walt grew up, like many of us, as
a farm boy, and never really got that out of his system. He attended
the Koyne School on the Ridge Rd. in his boyhood days, and when the
time was right, he married Ann Herbers, in 1954, and we congratulate
them on more than 50 years together.
Whatever early plans they may have made were soon to be
interrupted, however, when in 1955 Walt’s services were requested by
Uncle Sam. Actually, in those days, the word “request” was pronounced
“draft”. Life happens, as they say, and so it was off to Great Lakes
Naval Base for basic training, and then on to San Diego CA, where he
spent most of his duty. The Navy Brass had a good eye for occupational
specialties, so they did the natural thing and handed Walt a wrench.
His official duty was as an engine and diesel mechanic, no surprise
there, but the interesting part is that almost all of his time was
spent in the service and repair of submarines. While submarines are
seldom spotted in Brady Twp., the skills and knowledge gained in the
USN complemented Walt’s natural gifts and together they have served him
well over the ensuing 50 years.
In September of 1957, Walt returned home to resume his
life with Ann, shook the California beach sand from his boots, and
stuck them, once and for all, back in the Brady Township clay. He
resumed his job at Universal Electric in Owosso and they began the
business of raising a family of 5 daughters and farming all at the same
time. In 1963 he purchased the farm where he has lived and continues to
live. The property at that time included all of the open land we now
know and use as our Showgrounds. The additional wooded acreage came to
us with the 1991 purchase of the Myra Devereaux property.
In 1971, after a total of 14 years with the company in
Owosso, Walt hired in to what was then Saginaw Steering Gear in
Saginaw, where he continued to work until retiring in 1991.
In 1974, with 5 other friends and neighbors, Walt became
one of the Founding members of the Mid Michigan Old Gas Tractor
Association. After the first couple of shows, when it became clear that
the club would outgrow the original 6 acres or so that were used at the
Lawrence Haak farm, Walt decided to lease a part of his farm to us for
our annual August show. The growth continued and as the organization
prospered, he agreed to sell us, first one 20 acre parcel, and some
years later the second (east) 20 acres were added. In addition, today
we lease a few acres from Walt on the east side of Brennan Rd. that is
used for trailer parking during the show.
In all of that time, there is probably no more familiar
face to be associated with the MMOGTA than Walt’s. He has served as a
founding member, has held all the major Board positions for one or more
terms, been our landlord and benefactor, and one of our most tireless
workers and promoters. To this day, during the active season, he is
seen daily on the showgrounds, inspecting, checking, mowing, repairing,
maintaining equipment, and making sure all is well. Simply stated, if
we had paid him for all the hours he has put in on our behalf, the club
would be broke, and Walt would be wealthy.
Of course it wasn’t all work, since our organization has
a fun-loving reputation, that has always been one of the main
attractions for Walt as well as the rest of us. He has long enjoyed the
participation aspects and is still always out there with one of his
favorite John Deeres when it’s time for a tractor pull. It is well
known that the long green line is his chosen brand, but in the 23 or so
tractors he now owns, many other brands are represented as well. But,
after 34 years, we all have come to recognize that the club is much
more than just the hardware, the property, and the events, it’s about
the long term friendships and associations that we have all developed
over that time. Walt readily acknowledges that, looking back, his
connection with the MMOGTA has been a source of great pride and
gratification for him.
Today, Walt is just a few days shy of his 74th birthday,
and when I went to visit him and Ann to glean a little info for this
article, they were both out in the garage (shop), the heat was on,
Walt’s pipe was lit, he still had the wrench in his hand, grease from
knees to elbows, and a John Deere A torn down to the frame in the
corner. 74 years, several careers, 5 kids, 18 grandkids, 13
great-grandkids later, and he’s still able to be Walt. I like the
timeless consistency of that! (click photos below to enlarge)
WALT'S YARD ON DAY OF
HIS FUNERAL
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