Rita Bruch

Rita Eva was born on December 19, 1944, in Carroll, Iowa and grew up near Maple River. She was the daughter of Frank and Loretta (Steffes) Broich. She attended grade school at St. Francis in Maple River and then worked as a caregiver for young children and helped local families with laundry, cooking and cleaning. She married Marvin Bruch on May 14, 1966, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Arcadia. They began their marriage in Alabama and then spent 18 months in Germany while he was stationed there. After his discharge in 1968, they returned to farm south of Manning.

Rita took pride in all things home while Marv was busy farming. There was never a time that she didn’t have fresh baked goodies…from sugar cookies to homemade cinnamon twist bread, and visitors would always get to take home the leftovers. She loved tending her flowerbeds, and many neighbors and friends received cuttings over the years of her flowers. She was an excellent grandma and was always up for a game of Apples to Apples, UNO, Monopoly or cards. She spent many hours pouring over puzzle pieces with her grandkids too during their visits. Rita enjoyed attending the grandkids’ ball games, concerts, and other events. She was an avid crafter…painting wood crafts, crocheting, and quilting. Every grandchild and great grandchild have a baby blanket and an afghan from Rita. She was also a member of Sacred Heart Church in Manning.

She passed away on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Manning Regional Healthcare Center at the age of 80 years, 4 months, and 6 days of age.

She is survived by her four children: Susan (Mike) Steele of Adel, Patty (Dave) Stitz of Johnston, Tom (Tammy) Bruch of Manning, and Amy (Bret) Halbur of Manning; twelve grandchildren: Nathan, Joshua, Zach, Kate, Brianna, Camie, Wyatt, Clark, Nick, Samantha, Amber and Logan, and her seven great grandchildren: Arlo, Nora, Theo, Isaiah, Meyers, Oakley and Hadley. She is also survived by her sisters: Dorothy Hoffman of Lynchburg, VA, Phyllis (George) Wessling of Garner and Chris (Terry) Assman of Omaha as well as her in-laws Anita (Cyril) Venner of Arcadia, Arthur (Rita) Bruch of Arcadia, Betty Bruch of Carroll, and Carol (Jim) Starman of Halbur.

She was preceded in death by her husband Marvin in 2021, her parents Frank and Loretta Broich, her siblings and spouses: Esther (Loren) Leiting, Jane (Paul) Wessling, George Hoffman, Bonnie (Vernal) Onken, Richard Broich, Dennis Broich, and sister Marian Broich in infancy; Marv’s parents, Arthur and Regina Bruch, and his siblings: Paul (Darlene) Bruch, Robert (Lois) Bruch and Leo Bruch.

A rosary will be held at 4:45 p.m. and visitation with family greeting friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manning. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025, also at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with interment to follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manning or the Manning Regional Healthcare Center.

Out of respect for sensitivities within the family, we kindly ask that you refrain from wearing any scented products to the visitation or Mass.