Rita M. Bushman
Rita M. Bushman, 88, of Ossian, passed away Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014, at Gunderson Health Systems in LaCrosse, Wis.
Friends may call from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home in Ossian and one hour before services at the church on Wednesday. There will be a 3:30 p.m. Catholic Daughters Rosary Service and a 6:30 p.m. Scripture Service at the funeral home on Tuesday.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Ossian with Monsignor Cletus Hawes as celebrant.
Inurnment will be held at a later date in the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Cemetery in Ossian.
Online condolences may be left with: www.graufuneralhomes.com.
Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Ossian, assisted the family with the arrangements.
Rita Mary Elizabeth, the daughter of Bernard and Susie (Weber) Brincks, was born Sept. 1, 1925, on the family farm between Festina and Ossian. She attended the Collins School between Festina and Ossian. Rita helped her brother with the family farm until 1952.
She was united in marriage with LaVerne A. Bushman on Nov. 20, 1951, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Ossian. In 1952, Rita and LaVerne started farming for many years near Ossian, until their retirement in 1984.
Rita also worked as a housekeeper for Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union and she cleaned several houses. Rita and LaVerne both worked as housekeepers for St. Francis de Sales School in Ossian until retiring in 2002.
Rita was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and the Rosary Society. She also belonged to the Ossian Garden Club, Senior Citizens Community Club, the Square Dancing Club, and Card Club.
She enjoyed crocheting, gardening, traveling to many states, being a grandma, coffee time at Casey’s, and she loved playing cards. Rita also did volunteer work at Palmer Hospital and the Ossian Senior Hospice.
Rita is survived by her husband of sixty-two years, LaVerne, of Ossian; her daughter, Susie (Clete Christianson) Thorson of Elgin; her son, Steve (Ann) Bushman of Ft. Atkinson; eight grandchildren, Corey (Amy) Thorson; Sheena (Bill Bouzek) Thorson; Dustin (Jaimie) Thorson; Brent (Ashley) Bushman; Jessie (Jared Siebrecht) Bushman; Nicole (Steven “Spin”) Langreck; Daniel (Leta) Hageman; and Elissa Hageman; seventeen great-grandchildren; one brother, Richard (Evelyn) Brincks of Ossian; one sister, Edna Huinker of Ossian; three sisters-in-law, Maxine Brincks of Ossian, Henrietta Krumm of Decorah, Iowa and Irene Brincks of Lawler, Iowa.
Rita was preceded in death by a son who died in infancy; a granddaughter, Carrie, who died in infancy; her parents; four brothers; and three sisters.