Rita M. Kirsch

Rita M. Kirsch, 93, Stratford, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, November 15, 2021 at her home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 pm on Friday, November 19, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Stratford, with Rev. Sengole Vethanayagam officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Town of Eau Pleine, Marathon County and grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. The visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Thursday at Sauter / Rembs Funeral Home, Stratford and from 12:30 pm until service time on Friday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Rita was born on July 27, 1928 in Milladore, to William and Rose (Jankovitz) Brock. She was united in marriage to Roland G. Kirsch on September 9, 1950 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Marshfield. He died on February 1, 2010. In her early years, Rita had been employed at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Weinbrenner Shoe Factory, both in Marshfield and in her later years she provided home care, but she primarily was a devoted wife and mother. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed her flower beds, playing cards and putting puzzles together. She was a longtime member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the Parish Council of Catholic Women. She is survived by her children, Diane Krcma (Matt Vanek) of Woodbury, MN, Duane (Renee) Kirsch of Stevens Point, Larry (Carol) Kirsch of Stratford, Mary (Patty) Kirsch of Greenville, Dennis (Jody) Kirsch of Stratford and Renee (John) Manders of Appleton, a son-in-law, Don Schultz of Marshfield, and a daughter-in-law, Tammy Kirsch of Edgar. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. She is further survived by a brother, Alvin (Gladys) Brock, a brother-in-law, Robert Pupp and a sister-in-law, Grace Brock. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a daughter, Annette Schultz and a son, Thomas Kirsch, and a granddaughter, Emilie Manders.