MONTROSE — Rita Mary Kolker, age 93, died Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008 at Valley Manor Care Center in Montrose, Colo. She was born Feb. 17, 1915, to Charles Kashmir and Mary (Ulrich) Litkowski, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rita met and married Carl Herman Kolker July 11, 1936 in Dayton, Ohio. They were married 61 years and resided in Ohio and Michigan throughout their lives. She was a devout Catholic.
Rita is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Carl, and daughter-in-law Mary Lou (Lawrence) Kolker, and survived by her seven children, Carl Raymond (Kumsil) Kolker, San Diego, Calif.; William (Kari) Kolker, Auburn, Ind.; James (Sharon) Kolker, Muskegon, Mich.; Constance (Connie) Kolker, Montrose, Colo.; Janice (David) Desabrais, Casselberry, Fla.; Lawrence Kolker, Muskegon, Mich.; and Donna (Thomas) Patterson, Rapid City, S.D.; 20 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, five great great-grandchildren, and 17 nieces and nephews.
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She and Carl loved to travel, visiting their children in California, Colorado, Michigan, Florida and her daughter Donna while stationed in the Air Force in Germany. Rita had a wonderful dry, quick wit and sense of humor made the better with her mischievous, sparkling brown eyes. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by her far-flung family and friends.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial Mass will be celebrated for Rita at St. Daniel’s Church in Ouray, Colo., at 5 p.m., Oct. 14, 2008, with final services in Grand Haven, Mich. in the Spring of 2009. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 1804, Montrose, CO 81402.
Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-2121.
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