Rita T. Ciha

Ciha, Rita T.
Rita T. Ciha, Kimberly, age 80, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 following a lengthy battle with melanoma.
Rita was born June 10, 1927, in Combined Locks, the daughter of the late Albert and Marie (Van Elzen) Van Stralen. She graduated from Kimberly High School in 1946 and was joined in marriage to Herman J. Ciha on October 14, 1954. In 2007, they celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. Rita was a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Kimberly. Prior to her marriage, she was employed with the Standard Manufacturing Company in Appleton. After her children were all enrolled in grade school, she sold furniture for the Treasure Island store in Appleton for several years. Following that, Rita enjoyed working as a cashier in several area grocery stores, retiring at the age of 79.
For all who knew Rita, they will remember her as a proud and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and as a kind and gentle soul who always put others before herself. Her family will especially remember how she loved to laugh, to travel with her husband, and how she displayed an uncanny knack for winning at slot machines.
Survivors include her loving husband, Herman; a daughter Karen C. (Steve) Robinson of Cary, North Carolina; three sons: James J. Ciha (D'Alva Messina) of Grand Junction, Colorado; Steven M. Ciha (Jan) of Verona; and Thomas M. Ciha (Mary) of Darboy; her three grandsons: Kevin, Michael and Douglas Ciha of Darboy; and her step-grandchildren Kevin and Michelle Geen of Verona. She is also survived by four sisters and three brothers: Alice (Roman) Meier of Kimberly, Marilyn (Earl) Huth of Appleton; Joyce (James) Ebben of Appleton; Gloria (John) Williamson of Freedom; James Van Stralen (Marion) of Spokane Valley, Washington ; Raymond Van Stralen (Betty) of Pleasant Hill, California; and Kenneth Van Stralen (Margie) of Appleton; sisters-in-law Virginia (Alden) Van Iten of Green Bay; Geraldine Withagen of Appleton; a brother-in-law, Vernon Jochman of Kaukauna; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Mary; her husband's parents, Joseph and Octavia Ciha; a sister-in-law, Gladys Jochman; a nephew, Richard Withagen, and a niece, Bonnie Withagen.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 Noon on Saturday February 2, at Holy Spirit Parish, 620 E. Kimberly Avenue, Kimberly, with Father David Beaudry officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until the hour of service at the church. Interment will take place in a private family ceremony in Holy Name Cemetery, Kimberly. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Yvonne, Susan, Gina and Mindy, the wonderful caregivers from Affinity Hospice, for their loving care of Rita.