Rita Heil

Rita Margaret (Wegener) Heil, 98, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 26th, surrounded by her family.  Rita Wegener was born on June 5th, 1923, in Wauconda, Illinois, to her parents Henry and Rose Wegener.  She was the second oldest of 7 children.

She met Walter Heil while he worked on her parent’s dairy farm of Registered Holsteins in Volo, IL.  After WWII, Rita and Walter married on August 25th, 1945.  They resided in Illinois.  In 1950, they moved to Marathon City and bought a dairy farm, one mile south of the “Heil Homestead.”  God blessed them with 9 daughters and 3 sons.  They were blessed with 31 years of marriage before Walter’s death in 1977.

Rita was engaged in the P.C.C.W., Third Order of Franciscans, American Legion Auxiliary, and volunteered at St Anthony Retreat Center.  For many years she was a caregiver for in-home health care throughout Central Wisconsin and even returned to Illinois to care for her Aunt Agnes.  In 2009, at the age of 86, she “retired” to Norris Senior Apartments, next to the health care center in Marshfield.  She volunteered at the gift shop there and continued to visit “the old people,” as she lovingly referred to them, for the next 9 years.

Rita lived and practiced her Catholic faith to the fullest; being sure of what she hoped for and certain of what she did not see, having Jesus, Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Saints as her spiritual guides.   Rita’s life encompassed living out the Beatitudes; being pure in heart, humble, and merciful.  She encouraged everyone to love God with their whole heart, mind and soul.

“Grammy” delighted in being with her family and grandchildren, greeting them with bright eyes and huge smiles.   In addition to sharing her faith, she enjoyed sharing her sense of humor, skills of gardening, canning produce, baking, and sewing with her loved ones.

Rita is survived by her children: Louis (Gloria) Heil, Sister Carolyn FSPA, Sister Roselyn FSPA, Joan (Jim) Juedes, Martha (Jerry) Chubb, Maureen (Tom) Knetter, William (Patty) Heil, Lucy (Joe) Schroeder, Anthony (Judy) Heil, Donna (Rick) Kuhn, Paulette (David) Lemanski, 44 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandson.  She is also survived by her brother Leroy Wegener’s wife, Lorena (Teenie), and her husband’s 2 brothers and 2 sisters-in-law; Conrad and Doris Heil, Ted Heil, and Rosie (George) Heil.

In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by all of her siblings, her daughter Mary Catherine (Tom) Nervegna, two grandchildren; Jodeen Juedes and Daniel Lemanski, and one great-grandson; Patrick Schroeder.

A special thanks to Rita’s daughter, Lucy, and her family, for opening their home to Rita for the last three and a half years of her life.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wed., Dec. 1st at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary’s) Parish, Marathon City, WI.  Visitation will be at 9:30 am and will conclude just prior to the Mass at 11:00 am.  Rev. Fr. Nate Kuhn will be the celebrant with Rev. Msgr. Joseph Diermeier concelebrating. Burial will be at a later date. Helke Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to EWTN.