Obituary: Rita Mae Wiltgen

Rita Mae (née Ledenbach) Wiltgen, 88, of Ephraim, died peacefully Jan. 18, 2018, joining her beloved husband, Len, in heaven. Rita was born Jan. 18, 1930, in Evanston, Illinois, to Peter and Gertrude (née Laubach) Ledenbach. She attended St. Scholastica Academy and Mundelein College, both in Chicago and married Leonard R. Wiltgen in Evanston on June 24, 1952. Following their marriage, Rita and Len lived in El Paso, Texas; Winona, Minnesota; Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; Edina, Minnesota; Green Bay; Bloomington, Minnesota; and since 1995 in Ephraim, where they enjoyed a quiet life with plenty of time for family.

Rita, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, is survived by her nine children, Nancy, Paul (Rosetta), Timothy (Dolleen), Lawrence (Lois), Charles (Patricia), Eric (Judy Ziebell), Andrew (Kelly), Christine King (Michael), and Sarah Bohrer (Jeff); by seventeen grandchildren, Kathryn Monroe (Tyler), Anthony (Amy), Anne (James Yoder), Michelle (Jake Duncan), Bryan, Robert (Nicole), William, Charles, Erin Weeks (Paul), Lauren, Jeffrey (Alix), Joshua (Elizabeth), Daniel King, Jennifer King, Alisa Rogers (Christian), Ryan Christensen, and Nicholas Christensen; by ten great-grandchildren, Atticus Monroe, F.L. Monroe, Emma, Max, Vito Duncan, Morel Duncan, Declan Weeks, Addeline, Shaylan, and Leo Rogers; and by her best buddy Jackson. Rita is also survived by her dear sister-in-law, Mary Jo Wiltgen, and by many nieces and nephews. Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard, her parents, and her sister Rosemary (née Ledenbach) Quirk.

The family thanks the wonderful and caring staffs of St. Vincent Hospital, 9th floor, and Unity Hospice Care, who were all so kind and took such great care of Rita.

A Memorial Mass and celebration of life will take place in Sister Bay at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the Wiltgen Family at PO Box 467, Ephraim, Wisconsin 54211. Memorials to the charity of one’s choice are preferred.