Rita Simons

Rita, daughter of Joseph and Martha (Roth) Heithoff was born April 7, 1925 at Templeton in Carroll County, Iowa. She grew up in Templeton and attended Sacred Heart School there. On September 10, 1946, she was united in marriage with Joseph Theodore Simons at Sacred Heart Church in Templeton. Six children were born to this union. She and Joe farmed south of Carroll near Swan Lake until retiring in 1978. Rita spent three years working at the Sacred Heart School's lunch room and later worked for nineteen years in the Kuemper High School's lunch room. She also helped clean Holy Spirit Church for seven years. Rita and Joe operated a ceramic shop in their home for twenty-five years, where they taught ceramics to as many as fifty women in a week. They made over 4,000 ceramic chalices for first communions. They later sold their shop due to health issues. Rita and Joe loved playing bingo and bus rides to the casino. Rita made thousands of rosary beads from peach, apricot and buckeye seeds. She loved cooking and baking. Her favorite was making banana nut bread for her family and friends. She also had a special place in her heart for birds and enjoyed feeding them. Rita was a member of Holy Spirit Church and the Catholic Daughters of America. Rita remained in her home until moving to St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll in 2008. She passed away there on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at the age of 90 years, 4 months and 20 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Joe Simons on March 16, 2009; two grandchildren; two sisters: Bonita Sporrer and Irene Richter; four brothers: Marvin, Virgil, Linus and Joseph (in infancy) Heithoff. She is survived by six children: Bob Simons and special friend Deb of Carroll; Tom (Pat) Simons of Roselle; Mary (Dick) Reineke of Springfield, NE; Joni Venteicher and special friend Duane of Carroll; Phil (Joyce) Simons of Carroll; and Theresa (Larry) Greving of Willey; twenty-seven grandchildren; forty-six great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; a brother Eugene (Margaret) Heithoff of Templeton; three sisters: Edna Schrad of Templeton; Ruth Brown of Des Moines; and Bernice (Edwin) Halbur of Coon Rapids; two sisters-in-law: Mildred Heithoff of Dedham and Marge Heithoff of Madrid. Rev. Timothy Johnson, Celebrant Rev. Steven Brodersen, Concelebrant Lectors Amy Greving Dan Simons Mass Server Jake Kemper Maddie Simons Makenna Simons Drew Venteicher Eucharistic Ministers Tom Simons Mary Reineke Patty Simons Gift Bearers Kristie Pottebaum Jill Bivona Cheryl Reineke Rick Simons Randy Venteicher Tricia Crowe Music "On Eagle's Wings" "Be Not Afraid" "Gentle Woman" "Ave Maria" "How Great Thou Art" Holy Spirit Choir Barb McDermott, Organist Casketbearers Todd Simons Mark Venteicher Kevin Simons Ben Reineke Brian Simons Matthew Greving Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Spirit Church or Vestments for St. Anthony Hospital.