Rita L. Echternacht

PIERCE -- Memorial services for Rita Lorraine (DeWulf) Echternacht, 87, of Pierce will include visitation at Stonacek Memorial Chapel in Pierce on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be Friday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierce at 10 a.m. with lunch following at St. Joseph's Parish Hall. Interment will be later that afternoon at St. Michael's South Cemetery at Spalding. The Rev. Keith Rezac will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be given to charities of the family's choice. Rita Lorraine (DeWulf) Echternacht passed away Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Rita Lorraine (DeWulf) Echternacht was born Nov. 16, 1925. She was the fifth of eight children born to August and Mary (Pritchard) DeWulf outside Cedar Rapids. She attended school in Cedar Rapids and Elgin. She graduated from Cedar Rapids High School and went on to nursing school at St. Elizabeth's College of Nursing in Omaha. During her time at nursing school, she met the love of her life, Stan Echternacht. They were married in Cedar Rapids on Aug. 24, 1948. They lived in Omaha until Stan finished pharmacy school and then later moved to Spalding. They were blessed with five children. While in Spalding, Rita worked for the town doctor and at the local hospital, while also helping her husband at Stanley's Pharmacy. In 1971, they moved the family and the pharmacy to Pierce. They sold the store in 1987 and retired shortly thereafter. Rita was an active member of the church in both Spalding and Pierce. She was a member of the Legion Auxiliary and St. Joseph's Catholic Church Altar Society. She was also a founding mother of the Ladies of the Street organization in downtown Pierce and a member of the Red Hat Society. Her hobbies included golfing, bowling, traveling, reading, playing bridge and spending time with her family. She willingly gave her time and effort to her family, friends, church and community. She is survived by five siblings, Monica DeWulf of Omaha, Jack DeWulf of Atlantic, Iowa, Kate Quigley of Fredericksburg, Va., Jean Meyer of St. Edward and Joan Kayton of Omaha; four children, Jan and husband John Marino of Lisle, Ill., Chuck and wife Ellen of Pierce, Mary Elizabeth and husband Jim Savory of Denver, Colo., and Jim and wife Sandy of Santa Barbara, Calif.; six grandchildren, Mike and fiancee Patty of Lincoln, Alex of Jackson, Wyo., Sarah of Pierce, Maggie and husband Zack of Omaha, Ian of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Zoe of Lincoln. She was preceded in death by her parents; two siblings, Marie Kokrda and Bill DeWulf; her husband of 51 years and her son, Rick.

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Rita L. Echternacht

November 16, 1925 - October 22, 2013