Fabricius, Margaret

Margaret Fabricius, 96, better known as Rita, died peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, at Good Samaritan Home in Waukon, Iowa. Services will be private. The Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 JFK Rd., Dubuque, is in charge of the arrangements.

Born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, to John Reehal and Elizabeth Carr Reehal on Jan. 30, 1917, Rita was educated there and worked as a servant for a number of years.

She married George Rankin, also of Newcastle, and they had two children, Anne and Margaret (Maggi). After World War II, they came to the United States, first to Detroit, Mich., and then to the Dubuque area, where they ultimately settled in East Dubuque, where they were members of St. Mary's Church. There a son, Billy, joined their daughters. Billy died at the age of eight in a car accident.

While George spent most of his working years at John Deere, Rita worked as a cook first in several restaurants and ultimately spent more than 15 years as chef and kitchen manager at the Dubuque Golf and Country Club. She made active contributions to the community by founding a Girl Scout troop in East Dubuque and was an active member of the Altar and rosary Society.

Rita continued to work as a cook after George died in 1969. She married John Fabricius on Sept. 12, 1979, and they moved to McGregor, near her daughter, Maggi, who had married Roger Tieskoetter of that area. Rita and John were active in St. Mary's Church in McGregor and Rita volunteered regularly at Great River Care Center. As they grew older, they decided to move back to Dubuque, where they lived at Windsor Park. John died 2011 at Manor Care in Dubuque. Rita moved back to the McGregor area, and ultimately went to live at Garden View Senior Community.

Throughout her life, Rita was recognized for her generosity, her quick wit and her great sense of humor.

Rita is survived by her brother, John Reehal of Newcastle; several nieces and their families; daughters, Maggi Tieskoetter of Postville, Iowa, and Anne Grant of Alexandria, Va.; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous friends.

Published Sept. 20, 2013, in The Gazette