Rita C. Schmitz, 90, of Sumner, died Sunday, March 25, 2018, at the Hillcrest Home in Sumner.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sumner with Rev. Don Komboh and Rev. James Brokman concelebrating the Mass. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 27th at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sumner and for one hour preceding services at the church on Wednesday. A Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Church. Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.
Rita Claire, daughter of Lawrence and Alta Mae (Goeller) Kane was born November 5, 1927, in rural Dunkerton. She was baptized November 13, 1927, received her first communion on June 30, 1935, and confirmed May 14, 1941, all at St. Francis Catholic Church Barclay of rural Dunkerton. Rita received her early education in the rural Dunkerton Country Schools prior to graduating from Dunkerton High School. On January 27, 1948, she was united in marriage with Harold Schmitz at St. Francis Catholic Church Barclay. The couple farmed east of Raymond for ten years prior to moving to a farm northwest of Sumner in 1960. In 1986, the couple retired from farming and moved to town in Sumner. Rita was a long time member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sumner where she was active in the Women’s Guild, serving as President for one year, C.M.H. Card Marathon, a local sewing circle, and the Hillcrest Music Fun Time. She enjoyed fishing, gardening, flowers, baking, cake decorating, traveling, playing cards, the Chicago Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes, playing the organ, but most especially enjoyed spending time with her family.
Rita is survived by her eight children, Gary (Cathy) Schmitz of Sumner, Ronald (Debbie) Schmitz of Sumner, Rebecca (Tad) Boos of New Hartford, Debra Schmitz of Waterloo, Pamela (Patrick) Downing of Waterloo, Janet (Gene) Blazek of Fredericksburg, Nancy (Joel) Meyer of Sumner, and Mary Lou (John) Gorsky of Lisle, Illinois; twenty-three grandchildren, six step-grandchildren; forty-four great-grandchildren; eighteen step-great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Doris Frost of Sumner; one sister-in-law, Alma Schmitz of Denver; and brother-in-law, John Angstman of Dumont.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold who died November 1, 2005; one step-grandson, Devin Boos; two great-grandson, Joseph and Matthew Henderson; one brother, Herschel Kane; and three sisters, Cleo Youngblut, Rosemary Glassell, and Daphne Angstman.
