Surnames: Walsh, Gerum, Gehrke, Engel, Gutenberger, Schumacker, Pueschner, Scaad, Grennier, Bender, Schuster, Treutel

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Walsh, Rita E. (16 July 1925 - 23 Mar. 2008)

Rita E. Walsh

Rita E. Walsh, 82, of Marshfield died Sunday morning, March 23, 2008, at her home surrounded by her family under the care of Ministry Home Care Hospice.

A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 28, 2008, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The Rev. Jerome Gerum will officiate, and Dorothy Gehrke will be the organist for St. Cecelia Adult Choir. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery with her grandchildren serving as the pallbearers.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Rembs Funeral Home and Friday at Sacred Heart Church from 9:30 a.m. until time of the services. There will be a combined parish and Parish Council of Catholic Women Rosary Service at 4 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Rita was born July 16, 1925, in Colby to Elroy and Anna (Engel) Gutenberger and was a 1943 graduate of Colby High School.

Rita and Kenneth Schumacher were married July 14, 1943, and he was killed Feb. 28, 1945, at the Battle of the Bulge in Germany. She then was married to Gordon Pueschner on May 28, 1946, and he died May 10, 1954.

She was united in marriage to Armin "Butch" Walsh on Nov. 16, 1955, and between the two of them, raised nine children, who in turn gave them 22 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, all of whom helped celebrate their golden anniversary with a family dinner at the Belvedere Supper Club and the open house at the Wildwood Park in July 2005.

She had been employed by JC Penney Company at the downtown store, Marshfield, for many years. Rita then worked in the radiology department at Saint Joseph's Hospital and retired from the surgery department after 19 years.

Then the wonderful world of golf. Rita and Butch played at many golf courses from Maine to Oregon and from Canada to Mississippi. Her most memorable outing came just one year after her open heart surgery. She wanted to golf around Lake Superior. With that in mind, their first course was on Madeline Island, then into Minnesota, up to Canada and after many courses, into Sault Ste. Marie, and lastly into Copper Harbor, Mich. It was a wonderful time to be treasured forever.

Rita was a life member of the VFW Post 1866 Auxiliary of Marshfield and carried the American flag in the marching unit in all the parades for 10 years. Rita also had the privilege and honor of placing a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, while visiting Washington, D.C.

In 1993, she was awarded the Citizen of the Year from the Sunrise Lions Club. She also enjoyed cross stitch, needlepoint and quilting and all of the children received at least one quilt. In her spare time, she helped Butch make 22 scaled down grandfather clocks for their grandchildren for their wedding gifts.

Rita was a member of the St. Cecelia Choir for more than 55 years and choir director for 36 years until health reasons forced her to step down. Rita also directed the Senior Citizens Chorus of Marshfield for a number of years until her health failed again.

Besides her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she is lovingly survived by her husband Armin "Butch"; children Gordon (Patty) Pueschner of Standish, Maine; Donald (Pat) Pueschner, Greg (Beth) Walsh, and Rosie Pueschner all of Marshfield; Kay (Bill) Schaad of Tucson, Ariz.; Charlene (Paul Grennier) Pueschner of Lamira; David (Ida) Walsh of Clinton, and Terry (Sally) Walsh of Delavan. She is further survived by two daughters-in-law, Kathy Schumacher of Snellville, Ga., and Deb Walsh of Pittsville; two sisters, Eileen (Melvin) Bender of Mosinee and Eldora (Gordon) Schuster of Marshfield; two sisters-in-law, Grace Gutenberger of Colby and Ann Gutenberger of Merrill; and one brother-in-law, David Treutel of Colby, Wis.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents; her first two husbands; two sons, David Schumacher and Joel Walsh; two brothers, Jim and Roy Gutenberger; and a sister, Sharon Treutel.

Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com.