Rita Wempe, 87, of Seneca, KS, died Thursday afternoon, February 21, 2019.

She was born April 30, 1931, daughter of August and Anna Osterhus Schraad, on a farm northeast of St. Benedict, KS.  She grew up there, attending St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated from St. Benedict High School in 1948.

After graduation, Rita worked at the bank in Seneca for several years.  On October 10, 1953, Rita married Paul R. Wempe at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict.  They moved to El Paso, Texas while Paul was stationed at Fort Bliss, and then to Rapid City, South Dakota when he was transferred to Ellsworth Air Force Base.

After Paul was discharged from the military, they moved to Kansas City.  In 1957, the couple moved to the Wempe homestead east of Seneca, where they farmed and raised their young family. In 1968, they purchased a farm north of Seneca and made it their forever home.

Rita  is survived by her children, Paul Michael (Madonna) of St. Charles, Illinois, Judy (Joe) Niehues of Corning, Joyce Wempe (Morgan Rettele) of St. Louis, Missouri, Jean Darrah of Topeka, Joan (Dave) Crowder of Lilburn, Georgia and Patrick Wempe of Lawrence; grandchildren, Jessica Darrah Sheehy, Paul August Wempe, Kate Crowder, Lee Hamlet, Stephen Crowder, and Makenzie Crowder; step-grandchildren, Mike Cohoon, Kevin Cohoon and Jackie Crowder Young; brother, Frances Schraad of Seneca, sisters-in-law, Kathleen Schraad and Betty Schraad of Seneca, and brother-in-law, Don Cook of Kansas City, KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her spouse, Paul R Wempe, grandsons, Joseph Niehues and Wyatt Rettele; and siblings, Elmer Schraad, Eugene Schraad and Helen Cook.

A Rosary will be prayed on Sunday, February 24, 2019, at 2 & 7 P.M. at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 A.M. on Monday, February 25, 2019 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Burial in the church cemetery.

Lauer Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. To express your sympathy and for more information visit www.lauerfuneralhome.com .