Rita M Kaullen Kerwin

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Obituary- Kerwin, Rita

Rita M. Kerwin
ST. MARYS — Rita M. Kerwin, 78, St. Marys, died Monday, March 28,2005, at a Topeka hospital.

She was born May 10,1926, in Jefferson City, Mo., the daughter of Fred and Pauline Krier Kaullen. She grew up in Jefferson City, Mo., and later lived in Kansas City, Mo., where she graduated from Bishop Hogan High School in 1944. She earned bachelor degrees in music education and English at St. Marys College in Leavenworth in 1948. She and her husband made their home in the Delia community for more than 46 years before moving to St. Marys in January 1998.

Mrs. Kerwin began her teaching career in LeRoy and then taught band, vocal and English at St. Marys High School. She also taught in Hoyt and Onaga, and had been a substitute teacher in many communities while raising her family. She also taught private music lessons to numerous area youths for more than 30 years.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Delia, where she served as Altar Society president, church organist and vocalist. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys.

She married Robert A. “Bob” Kerwin on June 2,1951, in Kansas City, Mo. He survives, of the home.

Other survivors include two sons, Kevin Kerwin and his wife, Tammy, Delia, and Patrick Kerwin, St. Louis; three daughters, Marita Ronnau and her husband, Charles, St. Marys, Jean Poppelreiter and her husband, John, Maple Hill, and Janet Foresman and her husband, Gene, Mesa, Ariz.; a daughter-in-law, Lisa Kerwin, Delia; a brother, Fred P. Kaullen, Lillian, Ala.; a sister Barbara Marshall, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; 13 grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

Mrs. Kerwin was preceded in death by a son, Michael A. Kerwin, on Nov. 19, 2001; her parents; and a sister, Mary T. Whitfield.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery in St. Marys. Mrs. Kerwin will lie in state after 2 p.m. Thursday at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys, where a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the ALS Foundation and sent in care of the funeral home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kan. 66536.