Rita Regina Rolfes Niehus 1929 - 2018

ROLFES, NIEHUS, GRIES

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/12/2018 at 17:04:08

Sioux City Journal
24 October 2018

Le Mars, Iowa

Rita R. Niehus, 89, of Le Mars, died early Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, at a Sioux City hospital, with her family at her side, after a brief illness.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at All Saints Catholic Parish-St. Joseph Church in Le Mars. The Rev. Bruce Lawler will celebrate Mass. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Le Mars. A lavish lunch will be served in the parish hall following the interment. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Friday, with the family present 5 to 7 p.m., a rosary at 6 p.m. and a Scriptural prayer service at 7 p.m., at Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume 9:30 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. Expressions of sympathy may be directed through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com .

Rita Regina Rolfes was born on Jan. 8, 1929, on the family farm near Le Mars, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Gries) Rolfes. She grew up in the Le Mars area and graduated in 1946 from St. Joseph's High School in Le Mars. Rita worked from 1946 to 1954 at Le Mars Mutual Insurance Association in administrative positions, and took great pride in her career and accomplishments there as a career girl.

On Dec. 28, 1954, she was united in marriage to Walter Niehus at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars by the late Monsignor J. D. Fisch. Rita and Wally raised their seven kids and farmed for 37 years in the Remsen, Iowa, and Le Mars area. Wally and Rita sold the farm in 1993 and moved to Le Mars, where Rita lived with Wally until his death in 2004. Rita moved to Plymouth Manor Care Center in 2014.

Rita was a longtime member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. She enjoyed spending time with her family, baking fruit desserts from the orchard on the farm, reading, and household cleaning and organizing. Those who knew her will recall her dry wit and humor, as well as her warm heart and compassion for those less fortunate. She appreciated the music of Lawrence Welk and Johnny Cash and loved having her grandchildren sit on her lap.

Survivors include her seven loving children, a son, Ken (Mary Myers Davis) Niehus of Le Mars and Ken's children, Zach (Amanda) and their children, Emma, Isaac and Noah, Elizabeth, Kaleb, Ethan, and Aaron; a son, Tom (Angela) Niehus of Roswell, Ga., and his children, Justin (Chelsea) and their son, Keegan and Kyle (Mellisa) and their children, Brysen and Jaxon; a daughter, Rose (Steve) Hanson of Sioux City and their children, Christopher (Andreea), David and Paige; a son, Gerry (Monika) Niehus of Hesperia, Calif., and their son, Sebastien; a son, Dan (Renee) Niehus of Castle Rock, Colo., and their children, Tatum, Ellesyn, and Conlin; a son, Doug Niehus of Le Mars; a son, Mark (Karla) Niehus of Park City Utah, and their children, Reagan and Grayson; her sisters, Lorraine (Bill) Foley of Le Mars, and Sister Fidelis Rolfes of Chicago, Ill.; cousin, Clemens Langner; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wally; and a sister and brother, Lucy Gralapp and Gunter Rolfes.

Rita and Wally's six sons will be pallbearers. Her grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers.