Rita Catherine (Wendel) Wynk of Carthagena passed away peacefully on March 10, 2024, at Everheart Hospice, Greenville, with her children at her bedside.

She was born on February 28, 1939, to the late Rochus and Mildred (Beyke) Wendel.

Rita graduated from Coldwater High School in 1957 and then earned her RN degree in nursing at Mercery School of Nursing. Rita raised her seven children and then worked at Briarwood in Coldwater and the Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Minster. Her nurturing spirit and sweet smile touched the lives of countless patients that she took care of.

Rita's life was one of love and devotion. She was a dedicated and loving wife to her husband, Robert (Bob) Wynk, whom she married in 1961. Rita and Bob raised seven children. Her unwavering faith and devotion guided every aspect of Rita's life, with daily rosary and mass. Rita was a Companion of the Missionaries of Precious Blood and involved with the ladies' sodality at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. She was also a 50 year member of Catholic Financial Life and an Auxiliary member of the Knights of St. John in Maria Stein. Rita enjoyed playing cards, especially with the residents at St. Charles. Rita also loved to crochet and made many gifts for family and friends.

Rita's love of life will continue to leave a strong impact on her children: Ann (Barry) DeRoo, John (Phyllis) Wynk, Bernard (Linda) Wynk, Mary (Randy) Holthaus, Louis (Tammy) Wynk, Carolyn Wynk and Judy Boyd; her grandchildren: Brian (Melanie) DeRoo, Maria (Michael) Osborne, Leonard (fiancée Kelli Sloan) Wynk, Robert Wynk, Jamie (Brian) Conner, Jessie (Ian) Boyd, Alan (Marie) Wynk, Melissa Wynk, Nathan (Kelly) Holthaus, Heather Holthaus, Justin Holthaus, Madison Wynk and Gus Boyd; and her great-grandchildren: Barrett and Myles DeRoo, Anthony and Alaina Holthaus, Hap Boyd and Megan Conner.

Rita was the third of 13 children: Delores and Andy (dec.) Schlarman, Bill and Marie (dec.) Wendel, Roseann and Clete Prenger, Bob (dec.) and Marilyn Wendel, Kate Wendel, Ronald (dec.) and Karen Wendel, Donald (dec.) Wendel, Mary (dec.) and Dan (dec.) Bruns, Janet and Dave (dec.) Kuck, Dave and Eileen Wendel, Margie and Nick Meier, and Ernie and Marilyn Wendel.

Rita also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews and her two godsons, Ken Schlarman and Mark Prenger.

Rita was also preceded in death by her husband, Bob, in November of 2001 and grandchildren Jason DeRoo, Tommy DeRoo, Megan Wynk and Jacob Holthaus. Rita was also preceded in death by her in-laws Lorena and Othmar Reichert, Elmer and Jean Wynk, Lester and Wilma (Bergman) Wynk, Wilma (Billard) Wynk and Dorothy Wynk.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, March 16, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Montezuma, with Father John Tonkin as celebrant. Burial will follow at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Friday, March 15, from 2-8 p.m. at Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater.

The family asks in lieu of flowers that all memorial contributions may be made to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood or Everheart Hospice.

Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.