Rita Franz

Rita M. Franz, 76, of Holgate, Ohio died peacefully on Wednesday, November 8th, 2017 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born January 3, 1941 in rural Miller City to Jacob J. and Agnes (Wallen) Warnimont. She married Gerald P. Franz on April 28, 1962 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Miller City. Rita was a homemaker and helped her husband on the family farm. She served as the Township Clerk for Flatrock Township for 7 years, and was a Henry County Commissioner for 16 years. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Holgate, where she taught CCD for 20 years, was on the Parish Council, was a Eucharistic Minister, Church Lector, and served on the Rosary Altar Society. She was a member of Catholic Ladies of Columbia, New Bavaria, Napoleon American Legion Post #300 Auxiliary. Rita loved helping and serving her community and advocated for the Henry County Courthouse and Napoleon River Bridge renovations. She also served on the Boards that developed the Henry County Transportation Network and the Henry County Litter Board and was involved in many other county organizations. She is survived by her husband, Gerald; children, Suzanne (Alan) Wischmeyer, Ottawa, Michael (Penny) Franz, Napoleon, Nicholas (Beckie) Franz, Napoleon, Anne (John W.) Taylor, Napoleon, and Renee Patterson, Defiance; grandchildren, Logan and Alexa Franz, Andrew and Joseph Taylor, Lindsay Patterson & Hope Wischmeyer; sisters Eileen Klausing and Alma Jean (Robert) Hashbarger, both of Ottawa along with a sister- in-law Rita Warnimont of Ottawa. Rita was preceded in death by her brothers William, Norbert, Verl and infant Robert Warnimont, and sisters Mary Lou Beutler and Joanne Maag. Funeral Mass for Rita will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 11th at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Holgate. Interment will follow at Riverview Memory Gardens, Defiance. Visitation will be held on Friday from 2-8 p.m. at Rodenberger Funeral Home, Napoleon, Ohio. Memorial Donations should be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church, Henry County Hospital Foundation, Henry County Senior Center, or Henry County Transportation Network. Online condolences may be made at www.rodenbergerfuneralhome.com. The family would like to give a special thanks to CHP Defiance Community Hospice for the generous care they gave to Rita and her family.

Tributes

Rita Franz

January 3, 1941 - November 8, 2017