Rita L. Koch

Rita L. Koch, 92, of Merrill passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Marshfield Medical Center-Weston.

Rita was born December 1, 1930, in Antigo, daughter of the late Frank and Katherine (Krugel) Steinfest. Rita was raised on a farm north of Gleason. She married Norman Koch on June 28, 1952, in Merrill. She worked for several years at the former Merrill Candy and Hanson Glove. When her children were grown, she worked for a cleaning service for many years.

Rita was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and was involved in the church choir. She enjoyed sewing, embroidery and latch hook; vegetable and flower gardening; playing the piano and organ; and spending time in the woods riding 4-wheelers and making firewood. Rita loved spending the weekend dancing with Norman at local dance halls: together they enjoyed polka, fox trot, jitter bug and waltzes. Rita was a wonderful cook and baker and always packed goodies for the grandkids when they went back to college.

Rita was always there for her children and grandchildren. She babysat the grandchildren often and loved spending time with them. Rita was always willing to help and never spoke poorly of anyone. She always did everything for the sake of others, and she was the one that everyone should have lived their life like.

Survivors include her husband of 70 years, Norman Koch of Merrill; children, Steve Koch of Merrill, Cheryl (Ryan) Plautz of Merrill, David (Lisa) Koch of Wausau, and Dawn (Steve) Hintze of Merrill; grandchildren, Ashley (Steven) Sanford, Andrew (Amber) Plautz, Jacob (Olivia) Hintze, Ben (Nicole) Hintze, and Kaitlin Koch; great-grandchildren, Aidan, Addison, and Anderson Plautz, Avery, Chase, and Blade Hintze, and Sebastian and Stella Sanford; and her in-laws, Tom (Jean) Koch of Virginia, Jerry (Joan) Koch of Merrill, and Kathleen Paral of Green Bay. Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Katherine Steinfest; her brother, Eugene Steinfest; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Norman and Edna Koch; and her brother-in-law, Richard Koch.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill. Father Mariadas Vallabhaneni will preside. Entombment will take place in Merrill Memorial Park Mausoleum. The visitation will begin at 9:00 A.M., Tuesday at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com