Rita A. Wilz

PORTAGE  -- Rita A. Wilz, age 91, died on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at her home in Portage.

Rita was born on August 11, 1921, in Rice Lake, the 11th and final child of J.P. and Mary (Jacoby) Schneider.  She was raised in Rice Lake and married John H. Wilz on December 26, 1946.  Rita and John lived in Madison, Rice Lake, St. Joseph, MO, and moved to Portage in October of 1952.  For 15 years John and Rita were snowbirds, splitting their time between Wisconsin and Florida.  John preceded Rita in death on December 16, 2001.  Rita loved traveling outside the country, playing bridge, and living on the lake.    

She is survived by her children, Kathleen (Doug)Toomey, Jack (Julie) Wilz, Larry (Jane) Wilz, Sue (Dave Binder) Wilz, Jenny (Rich) Wolfe and Mary (Stuart) Nagy. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, Ian and Jeremy Wilz, Chelsea and Lauren Wilz, Ashley and Zak Wilz-Knutson, Lucas Wolfe and Morgan, Kyle and Shannon Nagy; and her great-grandchildren, Easton, Owen and Alex, other relatives and many friends.  Rita was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John, and a grandson.   

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 18, 2012, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Portage, with Fr. Jim Murphy presiding.  Private family burial will be held at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass at the church.  The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Portage Public Library Fundraising Campaign.