Rita Schulte
Rita Catherine Schulte, 94, of Dorchester passed away Thursday, November 16, 2023 at her home in Dorchester. Funeral services will be held Friday, November 24 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dorchester with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Friends may offer condolences prior to the funeral mass from 9:30-11 a.m. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.
Rita was born September 21, 1929 to John and Mary (Burke) McCormick in Hanover, rural Waukon. She grew up in Hanover and was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hanover. She attended and graduated from St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Waukon in 1947. After graduation, Rita worked as a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell Phone Company in Waukon until 1949.
Rita met her best friend and love of her life, Francis “Frank” Schulte, and married her husband of 70 years November 10, 1949 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Hanover. They farmed together in Waterloo Township, rural Dorchester, and raised eight children.
Rita was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Dorchester, where she was an active member of the parish, involved in the Rosary Society and was a catechism teacher, and also volunteered at the County Home. Rita was a superb cook and baker, had a few large vegetable gardens, canned and froze hundreds of quarts of fruits and vegetables, and loved and cared for her beautiful flower beds.
One of her truest joys was spending time with her children, grandchildren, and family. She was the best mother and grandmother anyone could ever hope for. No one ever left Rita’s house hungry whether they wanted to eat or not.
Rita is survived by her eight children: Diane (John) McCabe of Cresco, Debbie (Jack) Connor of La Crosse, WI, Gwen (Tim) Walleser of Janesville, WI, Reyne (Les) Knutson of Chatfield, MN, Jan Schulte of Eagan, MN, Ken (Roxanna Duncan) Schulte of Farmington, MN, Don Schulte of Eagan, MN and Amy (Carl) White of Rochester, MN. Rita is also survived by a sister, Marlene Dorn of Granbury, TX; a sister-in-law, Karen McCormick of Marion; 16 grandchildren: Patrick (Jesse) McCabe, Mary (Chase) Barbour, Jill (Judd) Griffith, Brian (Sara) Connor, Michelle, Kevin (Jenny) and Adam Walleser, Knute (Nicole) and Eric (Breanne) Knutson, Katie and Alex (Emmy) Schulte, Tony Dold, Mitchell and Bradley Schulte, and Addison and Zachary White; and 22 great-grandchildren.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary McCormick; her husband, Frank Schulte; her grandson, Michael McCabe; her daughter-in-law, Monica Schulte; her brothers, John Joe McCormick and Jim McCormick; her sister-in-law, Jeanette McCormick; her sister-in-law, Teresa McCormick; her brother-in-law, Thomas Dorn; her father- and mother-in-law, Henry and Mary “Mayme” Schulte; seven brothers-in-law: Clarence (Katheryn), Vincent (Rose), Joseph (Kathleen), Hank (Gertrude), Lawrence (Monica), Bernard (Virginia) and Matthew Schulte; two sisters-in-law, Mary (Joe) Gavin and Theresa Schulte; her grandparents; and several aunts and uncles.
Casketbearers will be Rita’s grandchildren. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfuneral.com.
