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Rita Engelhaupt Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Sep. 26, 2025.

Rita Ann Engelhaupt (Schmainda), age 85, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2025, in Los Alamitos, California.

Born on June 24, 1940, in Avon, Minnesota, Rita was the daughter of Charles and Emma (Jendro) Schmainda. She grew up in central Minnesota and graduated from Holdingford High School before pursuing her calling for nursing. In 1961, she earned her Registered Nursing Degree from the St. Cloud Hospital School of Nursing, marking the beginning of a lifelong commitment to healthcare.

Rita began her nursing career at St. Mary's Hospital in Minneapolis. Not long after, she and three fellow nurses made a bold move to Southern California, where she continued her profession at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. Over the years, Rita's career spanned many facets of health care, reflecting her dedication to service and compassion for others.

A devoted mother and sister, Rita is survived by her daughter Anne Engelhaupt; siblings Carol Waletski (Robert) of Brooklyn Park, MN; Charles P. Schmainda (Kaye) of Avon, MN; and Joan Burrow of Robbinsdale, MN; as well as many nieces and nephews who cherished her presence in their lives.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Robert J. Engelhaupt; sons Joseph B. Engelhaupt and James C. Engelhaupt; her parents Charles and Emma Schmainda; sister-in-law Leila Engelhaupt Gay and brother-in-law Gerald Burrow.

Rita found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She had a deep love for gardening and took pride in tending to her California citrus trees, flowers, and vegetables-earning a reputation as an excellent weed puller. Her home was a welcoming haven for friends from across the country-Ohio, Maine, Michigan-who had also made California their home. Rita was known for being an exceptional hostess to winter-weary visitors and those making trips to Disneyland.

A woman of faith, Rita was a member of St. Hedwig Catholic Church and school community.

She will be remembered as a thoughtful, kind-hearted person with a fun-loving spirit who brought warmth into every room she entered.

A Memorial Mass will be offered at St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Los Alamitos, California at 5 p.m. on March 8, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.

May Rita's memory bring comfort to all who knew and loved her.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

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Bernadette Kociemba

September 28, 2025

Dear family of Rita Engelhaupt,
Rita was in my class in elementary school at District 72, St Anna, Minnesota. We went on to Holdingford High School at which Rita was the Homecoming Queen while there. I did contact her when I arrived in California to teach school. Somehow, after the passing of her husband, we lost contact, even though she lived in Los Alamitos and I lived in Torrance about 11 miles away.
I was very surprised to learn of her passing. I believe she is the 25th classmate of the Class of 1958 who is now deceased. I would like to hear about her life if you have time to send a note online.
Please accept my condolence for your loss. I still have the oven mitts she gave me one Christmas when we got together. Here is my address and my email:
Bernadette Kociemba
2639 West 225th Street
Torrance, CA 90505
email: [email protected]