Rita K. Gronlund, 81, of Oshkosh, passed away on Thursday, March 25, 2004 at Mercy Medical Center. She was born in Green Bay on February 8, 1923, a daughter of the late Harold and Anna (Schenk) Maloney. She graduated from Green Bay West High School and continued her education at the St. Agnes School of Nursing in Fond du Lac. She served as an Army nurse and met her future husband, Howard Gronlund. They were married in Rockford, Illinois, in 1946. She then worked as a nurse at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute for over 30 years. After her retirement she was a courthouse volunteer until that program was discontinued and she was a docent for the EAA Museum until her health failed.
Rita was a life long Green Bay Packer's fan. She and her sister enjoyed extensive travel to tropical destinations. She was a faithful member of St. Raphael Catholic Church.
Surviving are her children, John (Mary) Gronlund of Oshkosh, David (Kitty) Gronlund of Naples, Florida, Mary Kay (Jim) Napp of Fennimore, Wisconsin, Andrew (Catherine) Gronlund of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Patrick "Sam" (Linda) Gronlund of Somerset, Wisconsin; five grandchildren, Nicolaus and Liz Gronlund of Naples, Sean, Heidi and Kevin Gronlund of Colorado Springs; brothers, Harold (Marcy) Maloney of Green Bay and Bill (Eleanor) Maloney of Seattle, Washington; and sister, Patricia (Robert) Smith of Lake Havasu, Arizona. She was preceded by her husband on May 5, 1971 and by an infant daughter, Anne.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, March 29th, at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 830 Westhaven Drive. Father Daniel Felton will lead the mass. Family and friends are invited to gather at the Seefeld Family of Funeral Chapels, 1025 Oregon Street, on Sunday from 2-5:00 PM and at the church on Monday beginning at 9:00 AM. Interment will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials be given to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society or the Winnebago Mental Health Institute volunteer program - care of Diane M.
Gratitude is extended to the staff at Oshkosh Medical and Rehabilitation Center for making the last several months as pleasant as possible and to the 2nd floor staff at Mercy Medical Center for their care and compassion. Special thanks are given to Jill, a humane society volunteer, for finding an adoptive home for Rita's cats, Tammy and Tigger.
Seefeld Funeral and Cremation Services
www.seefeldfuneral.com
236-7750