Rita A. Venhaus, 93, of Grand Island, NE, died Friday, March 3, 2023, at Emerald Nursing and Rehab Lakeview in Grand Island, NE. Mass of Christian burial will be Friday, March 10, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Cathedral. The celebrant will be Rev. David L. Rykwalder with Rev. Jorge Canela and Rev. Paul J. Colling concelebrating. Interment will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, March 9, 2023, from 5 – 7 p.m. at Curran Funeral Chapel with a vigil service at 7 p.m. You are encouraged to sign Rita's guestbook at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under her obituary. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family. Rita was born in St. Stephen's Nebraska on July 26, 1929, the daughter of William and Margaret (Hoelting) Brockman. She was raised on the family farm and attended St. Stephen's Elementary school, then graduated from Lawrence High School in Lawrence, NE. She married George Venhaus in 1948, then lived in Omaha where George went to electronics school and became a TV repairman. In 1953, they moved to Grand Island where they raised their family of 5 children. In 1979, George passed away. Rita took classes at Central Community College to improve her secretarial skills. She worked various offices and stores in Grand Island and also became known for her sewing and alteration skills, especially at Curry-Sipple Mensware. In the late 80s, she became the secretary for St. Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island. She retired in 1999. Her years at St. Mary's were very joyful and rewarding. She was able to live independently until 2020, when she moved into Emerald Nursing and Rehabilitation at Lakeview. Rita was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral for 70 years. She was part of the last quilting group that met at the church. Because of her vision problems, she had to give up some of her favorite things: sewing, quilting, writing letters, and completing crossword puzzles. She enjoyed visits from her family and friends and loved hearing stories about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her family could still get her to play a song or two on the piano. They also enjoyed hearing stories of her life on the farm, before the days of electricity, running water, and automobiles. Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Don Venhaus, from Sunnyvale, CA; Marian (Bill) Boehl from Ypsilanti, MI; Barbara (Dave) Beck from Grand Island; William (Crystal) Venhaus from Van Meter, IA; and Thomas (Dawn) Venhaus of Willow Springs, IL; 20 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, George; parents, William and Margaret; and her sisters, Collette Pohlmeier and Mary Agnes Bruckner, and her brother, Louis Brockman, who passed away three days before her death. Memorials to St. Mary's Cathedral or Grand Island Central Catholic. Visitation Curran Funeral Chapel Thursday, March 9, 2023 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM 3005 South Locust Street Grand Island, Nebraska 68801 Vigil Service Curran Funeral Chapel Thursday, March 9, 2023 7:00 PM 3005 South Locust Street Grand Island, Nebraska 68801 Mass of Christian Burial St. Mary's Cathedral Friday, March 10, 2023 10:30 AM 112 S. Cedar Grand Island, Nebraska 68801