Rita Marie Reicks

Rita M. Reicks was born to Ted and Lucy Ketteler on June 27, 1931, in Petersburg Nebraska. She departed this life on May 23, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. Rita was one of ten children. She grew up in a home that knew hard work and love. Rita enjoyed attending the many family reunions in Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, and especially enjoyed the family trip to Muenster, Germany.



She graduated from Pope John High School in 1949. Rita married LaVern "Crickett" Reicks on January 16, 1951. To this marriage eight children were born. Rita knew the pain of losing a child. Her son Michael died at age 18 months of meningitis and again with the recent loss of her son Jim from cancer.



Rita went to work with the JC Penney Company in 1969 as a retail clerk. She became the Red Cloud Store Manager until the store closed, at which time she became the Assistant Manager in the Hastings Imperial Mall store. She retired from JCP in 1986. Never one to sit still, she became the owner of the South Bar and Grill in Red Cloud where her lunch specials were loved by all. She sold the business to her daughter LuAnn in 1996.



Her leisure time was filled by participating in many community organizations, including Red Cloud Chamber of Commerce, Women's Chamber, Webster County Food Bank, Dapper Dozen Extension Club, Republican Valley Quilting Society, Cemetery Board, and the Women's Auxiliary. Her community efforts were recognized in 2010 when she received the Ardys Miksch Community Service Award.



She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish in Red Cloud. She served many years on the Church Board and was an active member of the Women's Altar Society. The church was a place of comfort and provided strength to her throughout her life.



Rita loved to play cards and spend time with her family and friends. She was always active with gardening, baking, and helping others. She was a woman of strong character and considerable work ethic. She had a wonderful sense of humor that even Alzheimer's couldn't take away from her.



She was preceded in death by her parents , her husband, LaVern, sons Michael and Jim, and brothers Laurence, Jerome, Gerald, Cyril, Richard, and Vern. Left to cherish her memory are her children Dave (Dana) Reicks, LuAnn Reicks, Pam Reicks, Jeff (Rhonda) Reicks, Beverly (Kathy) Reicks, and Scott Reicks (Nonie Rasser), daughter-in law Shirley Reicks, grandchildren, Cole Younger, Brandy Quadhamer, Corey Spanel, Cagney Jensen, Zachary Reicks, Danny Reicks, Mia Springer, Kayla Reicks, and Brooke Henry, six great grandchildren and siblings, Bud Ketteler, Rosie Seier, Bert Ketteler; many nieces and nephews and friends.



Services:

Funeral Service Friday, 1:30pm at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Petersburg, Nebraska with interment in St. Bonaventure Catholic Cemetery, Raeville, Nebraska



Visitation:

Visitation with the family Thursday, 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the 72nd Street Chapel with a Wake Service at 6:00pm.