Zimmer, Rita

Other Events:

• Obituary: 25 Jun 2013; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Obituary:
On June 22, 2013, Rita ended her earthly journey and went to her heavenly home. Rita was the first child of the late Jacob and Edith (Schwalen) Zimmer, born on September 4, 1925 in Ladysmith, WI. When she was four years of age, her family moved to Appleton, which has been her home ever since. On July 19, 1947 Rita married Richard "Dick" Gruentzel at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Appleton. After 56 years of marriage, he preceded her in death on September 21, 2003.
Rita is a charter member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church. In earlier years she spent many happy hours volunteering in various capacities at her church and school. She was also a lay minister, taking Holy Communion to shut-ins and patients at AMC. Her special love was reading God's word as lector at daily Mass. For many years she and Dick were faithful volunteers at St. Joe's food Pantry and the St. Vincent DePaul Store, which gave them great joy and many new friends.
She is survived by five very much loved children: a son, James (Jann) Gruentzel, Middleburg FL, and her daughters, Kathleen (Thomas) Bloy, Sarah (Larry) Long-Radloff, both Appleton, Lynn Gerlach, Seattle, WA, and Paula (Lori) Gruentzel, Firestone, CO. Very special grandchildren, Gina Phillips, Jesse (Chris) Bloy, Alyssa (Jeremy) Harris, Molly (Charlie) Hydes, Scott (Pamela) Gerlach, Summer (Chris) Foote, Jason (Kristen) Gruentzel, Jeffrey (LeAnn) Gruentzel, Carl (Bridget) Long, Neva (Paul) Moga. Also surviving are 22 precious great grandchildren: Christian, Holly, Hannah, Sam, Eli, Dylan, Finnian, Emma, Lindsey, Madeline, Kayra, Javon, Kendall, Korynne, Finley, Calvin, Lisa, Zach, Kyrian, Ridge, Olivia and Lyla and sweet great great granddaughter, Madison, as well as a sister, Carol (Steve) Zimmer, and brothers Paul (Pat) Zimmer, Fred (Pat) Zimmer, and Daniel (Teresa) Zimmer, sisters in law, Beverly Zimmer, Dolores Zimmer and Marilyn Anderson. She is also survived by specially loved son in law, Tom Gerlach.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, and brothers Edward Zimmer, Fr. Ellis Zimmer, OFM Cap. and Francis Zimmer; her father in law and mother in law Arthur and Odelia Gruentzel; sisters in law Beatrice Tallier and Adele Robinson, and brothers in law Paul Gruentzel, Charles Gruentzel, Eugene Gruentzel and John Gruentzel.
A celebration of her life will be held with a memorial Mass at St. Thomas More Church, 1810 N. McDonald St., Appleton at 11:00AM, on Thursday, June 27, 2013. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:00AM, until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established to benefit The St. Vincent DePaul Store of Appleton and St. Joseph Food Pantry.
Rita is very grateful to her pastors, Fr. Jim Lucas and Fr. Gerald Falk for their visits, prayers and encouragement. Also to her doctors, Sonya Eiben, Robert Ballard, Norma Turk and James Mariano.
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent from June 25 to June 27, 2013

Rita married Gruentzel, Richard "Dick" 19 Jul 1947. Richard (son of Gruentzel, Eugene and Krohn, Odelia) was born 22 Sep 1926; died 21 Sep 2003. [Group Sheet]