Rita J. Lochen

Rita J. Lochen (nee Gundrum), 79, passed away peacefully at Cornerstone Assisted Living in West Bend on July 17, 2025. 

Born Aug. 13, 1945, to Gregory and Mildred (nee Eckhart) Gundrum, Rita was raised in Slinger and graduated from Slinger High School. 

On Oct. 26, 1968, she married the love of her life, Paul V. Lochen. 

Together they enjoyed snowmobiling and getting together with friends and family as well as raising cattle on a small farm outside of Newburg.

Rita worked at First National Bank and Aurora Clinic before retiring in 2011.

After Paul’s unexpected death in 2004, Rita sold the farm and moved to West Bend.

Knitting and writing poems were Rita’s passions. She was involved with several knitting groups, Crafts for a Cause, Make Mittens for Many & the West Bend Senior Center Knitting group. She donated and gave as gifts many of the items she created. 

Rita also had a knack of putting words together to write a poem about anyone or anything.

Rita was a dedicated member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Newburg and the Holy Trinity Christian Women’s Society.

Those Rita leaves behind are her siblings, Elaine Wagner, Robert (Linda) Gundrum and Diana (Mark) Weber; sisters-in-law Mariann Gundrum, Rachel Vorpahl and Rose Ann Klos; brother-in-law Roy (Lois) Lochen; as well as nieces; nephews; other relatives; and friends.

In addition to her parents, Rita is preceded in death by her husband Paul; brother  Leslie; brothers and sister-in-law Ralph Wagner, Dave (Kathleen) Lochen, Louis “Joe” Vorpahl and Ronald Klos; nephews Mark Wagner and Jeff Lochen; and mother and father-in-law Herbert and Eleanor Lochen.

Rita’s family would like to thank Cornerstone Assisted Living, Allay Hospice and Dr. Diane Book for their kindness and care of Rita.

Visitation will be at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Newburg on Thursday, July 31, 2025, from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at 4 p.m. 

Burial will be at Holy Trinity Cemetery on Friday, Aug. 1, at 11 a.m.

Phillip Funeral Home is assisting the family.  

www.phillipfuneralhome.com