Klocke, Rita M.

Rita M. Klocke, 86, of Cascade, Iowa, passed away at 6:10 a.m. Sunday, July 29, 2012 at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade, Iowa, from complications due to a stroke.

Friends and relatives of Rita may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012 at Reiff Funeral Home in Cascade, Iowa, where a wake service will be held at 4 p.m.

Services for Rita will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Cascade, Iowa, with Rev. Douglas Loecke officiating. Concelebrating will be Rev. Joseph McDermott, SVD. Burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Cascade, Iowa.

Rita was born December 8, 1925 in Earling, Iowa, daughter of Frank and Cecelia (Schechinger) Kramer. As a child her family moved to Defiance, Iowa in 1927. She graduated from St. Paul's school in 1943. After graduating, Mom's first job was at the Martin Bomber Plant in Omaha, Neb., during World War II, where she riveted B-29 airplane wings and was one of many known as “Rosie the Riveter.”

She married LaVertus F. “Verdy” Klocke on June 2, 1947, at St. Peter's Church in Defiance, Iowa. The couple farmed in Randolph, Neb. until 1956 when they moved with their four oldest children to Cascade, Iowa and farmed until their retirement in 1989.

Rita volunteered for hospice for many years. She belonged to the Red Hat Society and dearly loved all of their outings. She also enjoyed coffee with the ladies on Friday mornings.

Mom enjoyed flower arranging, ceramics and painting. She made many beautiful paintings throughout the years. She had painting classes with some of her younger grandchildren. She dearly loved all of her grandchildren and was very complimentary of them. Mom loved to play cards with Dad and their card-playing friends. They played many card games with their grandchildren too. She also enjoyed her monthly bridge games for many years.

She was a member of St. Matthias Parish in Cascade, Iowa.

She is survived by five children, Linda Klocke of Chicago, Ill., Kathy (Bernie) McDermott of Worthington, Iowa, Darlene Walsh (and friend, Steve Lotz) of Silvis, Ill., and Tom (Donna) Klocke and Vic (Lori) Klocke, both of Cascade, Iowa; nine grandchildren, Trista Kluesner, Travis McDermott, Jennifer Steines, Tim Walsh, Melissa Sweeney, Stephanie Klocke, Jake Klocke, Mandy Bohlken and Paige Klocke; 11 great-grandchildren, Taylor, Trevor and Ty Kluesner, Aidan, Halle and Julia McDermott, Keegan and Aubree Steines, Brennan and Rece Bohlken, and Ella Sweeney; her sisters, Irene Friesen of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Theresa Grote of Portsmouth, Iowa, Mary Alice Heese of Earling, Iowa; her sisters-in-law, Marjorie VanSlyke of Randolph, Neb., and Marlene Kramer of Omaha, Neb.; and one brother-in-law, Joe Bissen of Clarinda, Iowa.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, LaVertus Klocke on February 1, 2008; one son, Timothy John Klocke on August 13, 1968; one grandson, Jason McDermott; and 13 siblings, Raymond Kramer, Cecelia Kramer, James Kramer, Anthony Kramer, Lawrence Kramer, Patricia Kramer, Vic Kramer, Jerry Kramer, Norbert Kramer, Dolores (Kramer) Fuhs, Francis Kramer, Leona (Kramer) Bissen, and Lillian (Kramer) Schaben.

Online condolences may be left for the family at

Published July 31, 2012 in The Gazette