Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 6th at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Walnut Grove with interment in the church cemetery.  Fr. Robert Mraz is officiating.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday AT THE CHURCH with a CCW rosary service at 5:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will continue on Thursday, one hour prior to the service.  The Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Rita M. (Thielges) Van De Wiele was born July 27, 1921 in St. Leo, MN to Adam & Bertha (Dittberner) Thielges.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith.  Rita attended school at St. Leo.  After her schooling, Rita helped new mothers caring for their children; and other families in need.  On November 25, 1941, Rita was united in marriage to Oscar Van De Wiele at St. Leo’s Catholic Church.  The couple moved to Walnut Grove where they farmed north of town, and later east of Walnut Grove where they farmed most of their married life.  In 1995, Rita moved to O’Brien Court in Tracy.  She entered the Tracy Nursing Home in December 2006, and later moved to Prairie View Health Care Center where she’s resided since.  Rita was a member of the ladies guild at both St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Walnut Grove, and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy.  She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially celebrating family events.  She also enjoyed taking pictures, gardening and cooking & baking.

Rita is survived by her children: David (Doreen) of Tracy, Leon (Sharon) of Cannon Falls, Robert (Diane) of Warrensburg, MO, John (Lorna) of Sugar Land, TX, Harold (Julie) of Rochester, MN, Denis (Andrea) of Hockley, TX, Audrey (Bernard) Winrich of Butterfield,  Mark (Tammy) of River Falls, WI, and Jane (Al) Weis of Little Falls; 26 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; sisters: Marie (Henry) Stoks of Marshall, Sister Janet Thielges OSB of St. Joseph, Lucille (Dave) Welu of Chicago, IL, Jeanette (Jerry) Hennen of Fargo, ND; brothers: Luverne Thielges of Canby, Alois Thielges of Marshall, and Ralph Thielges of Marshall; and many other relatives and friends.  She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Oscar, grandson Dan, daughter in law Nancy, and siblings: Della Forsblad, Irene Thielges, Phyllis Livermore, Alice Thielges, Arthur Thielges, Donald Thielges, and Matt Thielges.