Rita M. Salamun

Rita M. Salamun, 64, of Belgium died from cancer  Friday, Dec. 8.
    Ms. Salamun was born in Port Washington on June 4, 1953, to Arthur and Margaret Schauble Heim.
    She was raised in Grafton above her father’s business, Heim’s Shoe Store, where she worked as a teen. She graduated from Grafton High School in 1971.
    Shortly after graduation, she used her skills as a seamstress to make the wedding dress she wore when she married Charles Salamun. The couple then moved to Milwaukee.
    In 1972, Ms. Salamun returned to Grafton and worked for 20 years repairing shoes, jackets, bags, tents, flags, and other various items. She was constantly on the lookout for things she could up-cycle into something with a new purpose, her family said. She also worked on many woodworking and home remodeling projects.
    Ms. Salamun volunteered at Advocate’s of Ozaukee’s shelter, which compelled her to return to school and earn a social work degree. She received her undergraduate degree in 1996 and graduate degree in 1998, both from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  
    Her family said that Ms. Salamun used her life experiences to relate to others with compassion and empathy. The work she did with troubled youths and their families was gratifying to her, and she cared about the youths as if they were her own.
    Later in life, she became an advocate for women and children’s rights and also for people with disabilities. She also explored creative outlets such as music and the arts, and spent many years improving her technique in stained glass. She loved to travel, camp, vacation to and explore new places, take trips on her motorcycle and attend various motorsport events.
    Ms. Salamun is survived by daughter Michele Salamun of Thiensville; granddaughter Adeana Salamun; siblings Gerald (Connie) Heim of Kronenwetter, Arthur (Marsha) Heim of Waukesha and Arlene McDaniel of Thiensville.
    She was preceded in death by her parents, father-in-law Peter Salamun, sister-in-law Cathy Heim and brother-in-law Everett McDaniel.  
    Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Friedens Church in Port Washington.
    Visitation will be at the church at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
    Interment will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Cemetery in Grafton.
    Mueller Funeral Home, Cedarburg, is handling the arrangements.