Schmitz Funeral Home obituary - Rita T. Menke, 97, Houghton

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Rita T. Menke, 97, of Houghton, Iowa, passed away at 1:28 p.m. Saturday, May 22, 2201, at the Kensington in Fort Madison, Iowa.

Rita was born on May 18, 1924, in Keokuk, Iowa, the daughter of Hiller J. and Mary M. (Heinz) Veith. On January 3, 1948, she married James H. Menke at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Keokuk, Iowa. He preceded her in death on July 16, 2004.

She is survived by two sons: Mike C (Mary Lu) Menke and Marty A (Kathy) Menke of Houghton, Iowa; six grandchildren: Angie (Jeff) Lackie of Sequin, Texas, Wendy (Tim) Vonderhaar of West Point, Iowa, Kerri (Jeff) Phelps of Stockport, Iowa, Nicholas (Trisha) Menke of Adel, Iowa, Dana (Erik) Moore of Waukee, Iowa and Dylan (Selena Baccam) Menke of Des Moines, Iowa; ten great grandchildren: Eric, Luke, Judd and Dirk Daniels, Trenton and Meggie Meyer, Emma and Dean Phelps and Clara and Grace Menke; one sister: Sr. Mary Hillery Veith of Johnston, Iowa and one sister-in-law: Joan Menke of West Point, Iowa. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband: Jim; grandson: Paul Menke and four brothers: Harold, Leo, James and John Veith.

Rita was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Houghton. She was a simple soul, quiet in nature and deep rooted in her faith. She used her love of the outdoors to help teach her family of what was important, and that is all that God had created. She especially loved to watch birds, cardinals were her favorite. Along with her faith, her family was of utmost importance to her and she dearly loved time spent with them. She also, spent many a day with her sidekick, her sister, Mary. The two of them taught the grandchildren that sometimes the simplest things in life meant the most. Rita will be dearly loved and missed by all.The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Houghton where a parish rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Houghton with Father Dan Dorau as celebrant. Mass will be live streamed on the church Facebook page and posted on her obituary “Tribute Wall” on our website following the service at: www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.
Burial will be at St. John’s Cemetery in Houghton.
A memorial has been established in her memory for St. John’s Catholic Church.
Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with local arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.

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