Rita V. Leinen
August 12, 1922 — December 14, 2014
Rita Veronica Leinen was born on August 12, 1922 to Frank and Anna (Rau) Kloewer at Westphalia, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia and attended St. Boniface Catholic School.
On November 24, 1943, Rita was united in marriage to Marcus “Mark” Leinen at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa. They became parents to seven children: Marilyn, Gene, Joyce, Ken, Mary Lu, Marv, and Cathy. She belonged to St. Joseph’s in Earling, St. Mary’s of the Assumption in Panama, and since 1960, has been a member of St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima in Portsmouth.
Rita helped her husband on the farm before starting work as an aide in 1956 at Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, Iowa, where she worked full time until her retirement in 1988. She volunteered at Little Flower Haven Nursing Home in Earling and at church as the meal coordinator. She enjoyed quilting, was in a quilting group, and loved going to her grandchildren’s activities. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Katherine, #266 of Earling. Rita was a life-long contributor to the Red Cross blood drives, and donated more than 10 gallons of blood to help others in need.
After her husband’s death in 1980, Rita moved from the farm to Portsmouth, trading houses with her son Marvin and his family in 1983.
Rita died on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at the Rose Vista Nursing Home in Woodbine, Iowa, having attained the age of ninety-two years, four months, and two days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Mark, son Gene, granddaughter Jill Book, great-grandchildren Ryann Leinen and George Brandt, son-in-law Ron Flaharty, and brothers Roman and Eugene Kloewer.
She is survived by her children: Marilyn Leinen of Adel, Iowa, Joyce and her husband Terry Book of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Ken Leinen and his wife Deb of Portsmouth, Iowa, Mary Lu Flaharty and her fiancé Mike Ziemba of Woodbine, Iowa, Marvin Leinen and his wife Pam of Portsmouth, Iowa and Cathy and her husband Doug Hansen of Woodbine, Iowa; daughter-in-law Patty and her husband Bob West of Granger, Iowa; sixteen grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; twelve step-great-grandchildren; sisters: Sister Frances Kloewer of Omaha, Nebraska, Stella Bexten of Manilla, Iowa, Marie Smith and Margaret and her husband Raphael Grote all of Dunlap, Iowa; brothers: Charles Kloewer and his wife Rosemary of Charter Oak, Iowa, Gerald Kloewer and his wife Pauline of Harlan, Iowa, and Michael Kloewer and his wife Marlys of Manilla, Iowa; sister-in-law Kathleen Kloewer of Panama, Iowa; other family members and friends.
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On November 24, 1943, Rita was united in marriage to Marcus “Mark” Leinen at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa. They became parents to seven children: Marilyn, Gene, Joyce, Ken, Mary Lu, Marv, and Cathy. She belonged to St. Joseph’s in Earling, St. Mary’s of the Assumption in Panama, and since 1960, has been a member of St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima in Portsmouth.
Rita helped her husband on the farm before starting work as an aide in 1956 at Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, Iowa, where she worked full time until her retirement in 1988. She volunteered at Little Flower Haven Nursing Home in Earling and at church as the meal coordinator. She enjoyed quilting, was in a quilting group, and loved going to her grandchildren’s activities. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Katherine, #266 of Earling. Rita was a life-long contributor to the Red Cross blood drives, and donated more than 10 gallons of blood to help others in need.
After her husband’s death in 1980, Rita moved from the farm to Portsmouth, trading houses with her son Marvin and his family in 1983.
Rita died on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at the Rose Vista Nursing Home in Woodbine, Iowa, having attained the age of ninety-two years, four months, and two days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Mark, son Gene, granddaughter Jill Book, great-grandchildren Ryann Leinen and George Brandt, son-in-law Ron Flaharty, and brothers Roman and Eugene Kloewer.
She is survived by her children: Marilyn Leinen of Adel, Iowa, Joyce and her husband Terry Book of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Ken Leinen and his wife Deb of Portsmouth, Iowa, Mary Lu Flaharty and her fiancé Mike Ziemba of Woodbine, Iowa, Marvin Leinen and his wife Pam of Portsmouth, Iowa and Cathy and her husband Doug Hansen of Woodbine, Iowa; daughter-in-law Patty and her husband Bob West of Granger, Iowa; sixteen grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; twelve step-great-grandchildren; sisters: Sister Frances Kloewer of Omaha, Nebraska, Stella Bexten of Manilla, Iowa, Marie Smith and Margaret and her husband Raphael Grote all of Dunlap, Iowa; brothers: Charles Kloewer and his wife Rosemary of Charter Oak, Iowa, Gerald Kloewer and his wife Pauline of Harlan, Iowa, and Michael Kloewer and his wife Marlys of Manilla, Iowa; sister-in-law Kathleen Kloewer of Panama, Iowa; other family members and friends.
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