Rita M Wiedel

A Mass of Christian Burial for Rita M. Wiedel will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Orleans, Nebraska, with Fathers Thomas Wiedel, Maurice Current, and Priests of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, serving as Concelebrants.  Interment will follow at the Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery at Orleans.

The service will be live streamed via the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Homes Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Nelson-Bauer-Funeral-Homes-111601113801622

A Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Orleans, with the family greeting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

A Rosary will be prayed for the repose of her soul on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. at the church.

Rita Marlene Wiedel, 84 of Alma, Nebraska, died unexpectedly on Friday, May 13, 2022, at her home.  Rita was born on November 7, 1937, at Elk Creek, Nebraska, the eldest of three daughters born to Leo Nicholas and Alice Lucinda (Mason) Uri.  She began school in Wilcox, Nebraska, and then continued in York, Nebraska, when Leo was transferred in his work for Burlington Railroad.  While living in York, she was given a horse named, Crystal, who she loved to ride whenever she had a chance.  They moved from York to Orleans, Nebraska, where she graduated from high school.  She enjoyed being a member of the Cheerleading team.

Rita pursued higher education at Kearney College, and then worked in Denver, Colorado, for a short time.  Rita then went to Kansas City with high school friends Margie (Wiedel) Holguin and Norma (Hergott) Carson.   It was in Kansas City that Rita struck up a conversation with Margie's big brother, Gerald Wiedel who was at the Kansas City Art Institute.

On June 7, 1958, Rita was united in marriage to Gerald "Jerry" Albert Wiedel at St Mary's Catholic Church in Orleans.  This union was blessed with four sons: Thomas Lee, Daniel Albert, William Mark, and Bradley James.  After living in Orleans for a few years, Gerald and Rita made their home on the family dairy farm west of Orleans, where Rita helped Jerry with the day-to-day operation of the farm life.

Over the years Rita expanded her bookkeeping skills, working for Ott Elevator and the local meat packing house.  Some years later, she found work as an Assistant Director of Activities at the Good Samaritan Society Colonial Villa Nursing Home in Alma.  She soon took over as the Director of Activities, which she loved, spending more than twenty-five years in that work.

Rita enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels from the Colonial Villa for a few years and then after her retirement, she continued to volunteer at the Colonial Villa, reading to the residents.  She volunteered as a leader in TOPS and at the Caring Cupboard, where she has served as Secretary for some years.  She also attended Bible Studies with several of her dear friends.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jerry in 2016; two sons:  Bradley in 2019; and Daniel on Sunday, May 8, 2022; one great-grandson, Waylon Wyatt Wiedel; and two brothers-in-law:  Keith Peterson; and Clarence Wiedel.

Rita is survived by her sons:  Father Tom Wiedel from Manley, Nebraska; and Bill Wiedel and his wife, Denise of rural Orleans; daughter-in-law, Krista Wiedel of Beatrice, Nebraska; nine grandchildren: Megan (Terry) Sutton; Brandon (Katie) Wiedel; Brooke (Jesse) Langley; Jordon (Cheyenne) Wiedel; Elijah Wiedel; Christian (Zoe) Wiedel; Hannah Wiedel; Cecily Wiedel; and Collin Wiedel; eleven great-grandchildren; her two sisters:  Margie Peterson; and Janet Krofta and her husband, Ed; three brothers-in-law: Jerome Wiedel and his wife Mary Jo; Clifford Wiedel and his wife, Carol; and Willis Wiedel and his wife Anita; three sisters in law: Marjorie Holguin and her husband, Pablo; Rita Bantam and her husband Tony; and Ida Wiedel; along with extended family members and many, many friends

A memorial has been suggested to the family for later designation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements.