Rita C Wempe, 87, of Seneca, KS, passed away Thursday afternoon, February 21, 2019, surrounded by her family.

Rita was born April 30, 1931, to August and Anna Osterhus Schraad. The family lived on a farm northeast of St. Benedict, KS.  Rita grew up there, attended St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated from St. Benedict High School in 1949.

After graduation, Rita lived in Seneca and worked at the bank for several years.  Rita met her soon-to-be sweetheart, Paul R. Wempe, at a dance in Oneida, KS.  Their very first date was spent playing cards with Rita’s parents as Paul proved to be a fearless soul.  On October 10, 1953, they were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. Paul joined the military and they were stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas where Rita worked at the local bank. Paul was then transferred to Ellsworth Air Force Base and the couple moved to Rapid City, South Dakota.

After Paul was discharged from the military, they moved to Kansas City.  In 1957, the couple moved to the Wempe homestead east of Seneca, where they farmed and raised their young and growing family. In 1968, they purchased a farm north of Seneca and made it their forever home.

Throughout her life, Rita has been the heart and soul of her family. Because Paul farmed and worked an erratic schedule for Union Pacific, Rita managed the household, raising six children and meeting the demands of being a farm-wife/mother. A role she performed with love, care, wisdom, and kindness.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St Ann’s Altar Society.  Both Paul and Rita were members of Union Pacific’s Junior Old Timers club which fostered multiple long term friendships with other Railroad families. Rita and Paul traveled to Europe, Hawaii, and multiple vacation destinations in the United States, often to also visit their family.

Rita learned to sew with her Mom’s guidance, initially making doll clothes for her girls, becoming an accomplished seamstress and quilter. She spent many years supporting her kids’ activities and stressing about their shenanigans, enjoyed playing cards, volunteered at the church’s mission center, and worked part-time at the liquor store. Doting on her grandchildren was by far her favorite pastime; they filled her with joy. She so adored the company of young children, her face lit up whenever she was around them.  When her parents, August and Anna, could no longer live independently, Rita cared for them at her home. She was kind beyond words, yet strong to the core. She successfully battled multiple maladies over the course of the last twenty-plus years with perseverance, grace, and faith.

She is survived by her children, Paul Michael (Madonna) of St. Charles, Illinois, Judy (Joe) Niehues of Corning, Joyce Wempe (Morgan Rettele) of St. Louis, Missouri, Jean Darrah of Topeka, Joan (Dave) Crowder of Lilburn, Georgia and Patrick Wempe of Lawrence; grandchildren, Jessica Darrah Sheehy, Paul August Wempe, Kate Crowder, Lee Hamlet, Stephen Crowder, and Makenzie Crowder; step-grandchildren, Mike Cohoon, Kevin Cohoon and Jackie Crowder Young; brother, Frances Schraad of Seneca, sisters-in-law, Kathleen Schraad and Betty Schraad of Seneca, and brother-in-law, Don Cook of Kansas City, KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her spouse, Paul R Wempe, grandsons, Joseph Niehues and Wyatt Rettele; and siblings, Elmer Schraad, Eugene Schraad and Helen Cook.

A Rosary will be prayed on Sunday, February 24, 2019, at 2 & 7 P.M. at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 A.M. on Monday, February 25, 2019 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Burial in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Saints Peter and Paul Grade School for a special project to be designated at a later date.