In Memory of Rita Schoenfeld

Rita Schoenfeld, age 88, of Battle Creek, Iowa passed away on Friday, June 22, 2018, at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove, Iowa.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday June 28, 2018 at the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Battle Creek, Iowa. Rev. Randy D. Cormeny will officiate; with Committal Services following in the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa. A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Battle Creek, Iowa. The Christensen -Van Houten Funeral Home of Battle Creek and Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Rita Mae Schoenfeld, the daughter of Emil and Theresa (Scheer) Rohde, was born April 9, 1930, in Battle Creek, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed in her faith at St. Mathew’s Lutheran Church in Mapleton, IA. Rita spent her youth growing up on the family farm near Castana, IA. She attended school in Castana until her junior year when the family moved to Cushing, IA. Rita graduated from Cushing High School with the class of 1948.

On March 20, 1949, Rita was united in marriage to Frederick Schoenfeld at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church-Midway in rural Battle Creek, IA. The couple was blessed with six children: Gary, Larry, Terry, Sherry, and two daughters whom passed in infancy. The family made their home on a farm near Schleswig before moving to Ida Grove. In 1972, they moved to the family homestead near Battle Creek where she lived until her passing.

Besides being a loving mother, grandmother and housewife, Rita worked as a dietician for over 30 years at Morningside Healthcare Community in Ida Grove. She was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan and enjoyed watching their games. She attended local football, basketball, and softball games. She was proud of the fact that she and Fred never missed one of their grandchildren’s games and they continued to attend local sporting events even after their grandchildren had graduated. She also enjoyed watching the Game Show Network.

Rita loved her family dearly and enjoyed spending time with them. What she enjoyed the most in her final years was being “GG” to “her girls”: Makelti, Melody, and Monica. She will be dearly missed by her family.

Left to cherish her memory include her son Terry Schoenfeld and daughter Sherry (Kenny) Tietsort both of Battle Creek, IA; daughters-in-law Sharon Schoenfeld of Denison, IA and Deb Schoenfeld of Mapleton, IA; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Rita Rohde of Atlantic, IA; many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Emil and Theresa Rohde; her husband Frederick Schoenfeld; sons Larry and Gary Schoenfeld; two infant daughters; and brother Robert Rohde.