Rita Shindelar

Tuesday, February 9, 2016 4:08 pm

Rita Shindelar, 90, of Decorah, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Society in West Union. Mass Of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb.6, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Spillville, with Rev. Dan Knipper officiating. Organist is Doris Thompson. Cantor is Dan Silhacek. St. Wenceslaus Choir will sing “Be Not Afraid,” “Prayer of St. Francis,” “On Eagle’s Wings,”  “Goin Home” and “How Great Thou Art.” Lector is Carmalita Rosenbaum. Offertory gift bearers are Darlene Poshusta and Steve Shindelar. Eucharistic minister is Carmelita Rosenbaum. Casket bearers are Bob Smith, Todd Poshusta     Simon Schmitt, Bobby Shindelar, Carson Poshusta, Rick Rosenbaum and Ron Rosenbaum. Interment is at St. Wenceslaus Church cemetery, in Spillville. Arrangements are being handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah.

Rita Ruth (Rosenbaum) Shindelar was born July 27, 1925, to Louis and Mathilda (Huber) Rosenbaum on the family farm near Festina. Rita attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Festina and helped on the family farm. Rita was united in marriage to Daniel Shindelar Oct. 23, 1945, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waucoma, Iowa by Rev. Clarence Drummy. Together they farmed the family farm near Spillville and then southwest of Decorah. In August of 1953, Dan had a farming accident, which left him paralyzed; this accident left Rita as main worker of the farm. Over the years on the farm, Rita milked the Brown Swiss cows, and enjoyed listening to polka music in the barn. They retired from farming in 1972 and moved to Decorah. Rita then went to work at the Winneshiek County Home (Oneota Care Facility/Wellington Place) for 26½ years in housekeeping. Rita enjoyed fishing, riding horses, making ceramics and dancing in her younger years. She also enjoyed gardening, canning and feeding the birds. Rita loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren and was the best Mom ever. She was a former member St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah and St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville.

Rita is survived by her two children:, Darlene Poshusta, Fort Atkinson and Steve Shindelar, Riceville; eight grandchildren: Tami (Sam) Tippy, Todd (Kim) Poshusta, Traci (Marvin) Schmitt, Bobby Shindelar, Neely Shindelar, Stacy (Christopher) Simenz, Stephanie Schoonover and Valerie Heins; great-grandchildren: Alicia, Erin and Morgan Heins, Sydney and Carson Poshusta, Simon and Oliver Schmitt, Lilli and Jack Tippy, Trina Gibbons, Logan and Lucas Schoonover; one sister, Dorothy Smith, Cresco;  one brother, Gilbert (Carmalita) Rosenbaum, New Hampton; along with several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, and great-great-nieces andnephews.

Rita will be joined in Heaven by both her husband, Dan Shindelar, who died Sept. 29, 2004, and her son, Larry, who died in an auto accident in 1976; her parents, Louis Rosenbaum in 1970; and Mathilda (Huber) Rosenbaum in 1982; four sisters: Carmella (Ralph “Bud”) Holtey in 2001, Evelyn (Ray) Gillem in 2007, Mary (Michael) Baker in 2011 Ruth (Don) Hansel in 2015; two brothers, Fred (LaVonne) Rosenbaum and George (Joyce) Rosenbaum; one brother-in-law, Stanley Smith; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Mary and Wenzel Shindelar; two brothers-in-law, Jerry (Rosa) and Jerome (Agnes) Shindelar; four sisters-in-law: Adella (James) Frana and Margaret (Cyril) Jestrab, Regina (Frank) Frana and Mary Shindelar in infancy; one niece, Georgia Rosenbaum in infancy and one nephew, Gerald Rosenbaum in 1968 in Vietnam.