Rita A. Lex Brimeyer 1936-2009

BRIMEYER, LEX, BACKES, FLEEGE, NEUMANN, RETTENMEIER, HUBER

Posted By: J. N. (email)
Date: 3/25/2009 at 12:05:11

Telegraph Herald
Dubuque, Iowa
Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Rita A. Brimeyer

Rita A. Brimeyer, 73, of Dubuque, entered eternal life Monday, March 23, 2009, at The Finley Hospital, Dubuque, following a courageous battle with leukemia.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 26, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, where there will be a wake service at 8 p.m. Private burial will in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the church. The Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home, 3860 Asbury Road, is in charge of arrangements.

She was born on Jan. 12, 1936, at the family farm house in Asbury, daughter of Andrew and Viola (Backes) Lex. She attended Wilton Grade School, a one-room school house in Asbury, and then went on to graduate from St. Columbkille's High School in 1954.

She married Willard Brimeyer on April 12, 1958, at St. Philomena's Catholic Church in Asbury.

Over the next 50 years together, they built their lives around raising their five children and building their business of Brimeyer Auto Body. She was lastly employed as a dispatcher and scheduler at the mini bus for Project Concern for 11 years, retiring in 2002.

She was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church where she was involved with the Rosary Society. She was a supporter of Catholic education. She was a proud member of the "Lunch Bunch" since 1978.

Rita gave a big part of her life to her family and friends. She always said she was rich in family and friends and this was certainly proven during her illness. She enjoyed her weekends at stock car races throughout Iowa for more than 30 years and was a NASCAR fan of Rusty Wallace and Tony Stewart. In the winter months, she enjoyed many weekends snowmobiling in the tri-state area and trips to northern Wisconsin and Yellowstone National Park.

In her earlier years, Rita enjoyed boating on the Mississippi with family and friends, and in her later years, sitting by the river in her PT Cruiser. She was an avid Cubs fan for many years and found great pleasure in feeding birds, planting and sending flowers. She entertained many friends and family at the cottage.

Over the years, she enjoyed many business trips and family vacations. Her greatest vacation was visiting the birthplace of her grandpa in Klusserath, Germany. She enjoyed spending time with her darling dozen grandchildren, who lovingly called her "Nana." Her warm smile, positive personality, giving nature and relentless strength touched many lives over the years. Rita lived her life to the fullest and always said "It was a good one."

Surviving are her husband, Willard; their five children, Dan (Chris) Brimeyer, and their children, Brianna, Brandon, Bayleigh and Brooke, Tom (Lisa) Brimeyer, and their children, Paige, Austin and Morgan, Julie (Fred) Fleege, and their children, Megan, Carter and Taylor, Tony Brimeyer and Peggy (Ron) Neumann, and their children, Annika and Ava, all of the tri-state area; three brothers, Allen (Mary Ann) Lex, Bob (Shirley) Lex and Vern (Carol) Lex; a sister, Marlene (Earl) Rettenmeier; three sisters-in-law, Janice Lex, Marge (Ron) Huber and Jane Brimeyer; three brothers-in-law, Vince (Alice) Brimeyer and Robert (Lucille) Brimeyer, all of the tri-state area, and Ralph (Evie) Brimeyer, of Bettendorf; five godchildren, Richard Buol, of Reseda, Calif., Ruth Gallo, of San Antonio, Kathy Theilen, of Zwingle, Iowa, Dennis Brimeyer, of Alpharetta, Ga., and Patrick Lex, of Dubuque; and several nieces, nephews and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Jim Lex; and two brothers-in-law, Lester Brimeyer and Francis Brimeyer.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hoffmannschneiderfuneralhomes.com.

Rita's family would like to extend a warm thank-you to all the family and friends who have helped us spiritually, physically and emotionally throughout the past year, especially Dr. Hohl, Wendee Beranek, Dr. Silverman, the entire staff on the 7th floor leukemia unit in Iowa City, Dr. Hermann and the staff on 5th floor oncology and 4th floor transitional care unit at Finley Hospital.

"The finest things in life are not things."