Obit: Schmitt, Rita M. (1932 - 2021)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Schmitt, Wittmann, Geiger, Hass, Weideman, Hanne, Witte, Lofland, Sterzinger, Redman, Scanlon, Kunze, Kaiser, Zoellick, Apfelbeck, Peterson, Kocian, Kruse, Fosdich, Zera, Lang, Redfern

----Source: Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home (Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI) 3/07/2021

Schmitt, Rita M. (2 January 1932 – 5 March 2021)

Rita M. Schmitt, age 89, of Abbotsford, passed away on Friday, March 5, 2021 at Marshfield Medical Center.

Rita was born on January 2, 1932 the daughter of Frank and Clara (Wittmann) Geiger. She graduated from Abbotsford High School in 1949. Rita was united in marriage to Emery Schmitt on February 3, 1951 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Abbotsford. They were married for 66 years. He preceded her in death on May 4, 2017.

Rita and Emery farmed in the Town of Hull. She also worked at the Abby Café and Welcome Dairy. Rita enjoyed polka dancing, going to casinos and traveling. She was a great cook and baker. Most importantly, Rita cherished her family.

Rita is survived by her eight children: Ronald (Bonnie) of Colby, Russell (Janet) of Abbotsford, Gloria (Dale) Hass of Kewaskum, Janice (Robert) Weideman, Jr. of Curtiss, Gordon (Debra) of Abbotsford, Gary (Brenda) of Kyle, TX, Alan (Lori) of Colby and Terry (Jean) of Colby; 31 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her brother, Louis Geiger of Sparta; sisters: Jeanette Hanne of Yuma, AZ, Doris (Dean) Witte of Colby, Celine Lofland of Ogema; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Darrell Sterzinger, Germaine (Fred) Redman, Mary Ann Scanlon, Verjean Kunze, Linus (Joan) Schmitt, Timothy (Suzie) Schmitt and Delores Schmitt; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Emery; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Alphonse and Gertrude (Kaiser) Schmitt; great-grandson, Kyzer Lee Zoellick; her three sisters: Dorothy Apfelbeck, Diane Sterzinger and Alvina Geiger; her in-laws, Kathleen Geiger, Verne Hanne, Leo Lofland, Rita (Lawrence) Peterson, Maude (Elmer) Kocian, Naomi (Harry) Kruse, Carmen Fosdich, Blanche (Angelo) Zera, Mercedes (Leo) Lang, Mark Schmitt, Lawrence Kunze, Harold Scanlon, Roman Schmitt and Pamela Schmitt.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Parish in Colby. Father Joseph Redfern will officiate. Interment to follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. Family and friends are welcome from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the church. Family and friends can watch the service live on the Maurina Schilling Funeral Home Facebook page or after the service anytime on Facebook or the website. We encourage those in attendance to abide by the Covid-19 guidelines by sanitizing, wearing a mask (if able) and social distancing.

The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford is entrusted with the arrangements.

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