Rita Lorraine Goepel

Rita Lorraine McGarty Goepel
July 16,1932 to January 17,2024
Rita of Hartland died peacefully Wednesday surrounded by her loving family.
She was born July 16th, 1932 in Mauston, Wisconsin to John Patrick ( Pat) McGarty and Jane (Croal) McGarty. She was the youngest of 4 children and grew up in Mauston where her parents ran a warehouse for farm supplies. She later moved to the family farm. She attended Saint Patrick's school, and then graduated from Mauston high school in 1949. She worked at the local A&W stand and was a proud Mauston High cheerleader. She later graduated college from Edgewood College in Madison in 1953 with a teaching degree. After a year teaching in New Lisbon, she moved to Milwaukee where she taught kindergarten for Milwaukee Public Schools for over 30 years, and started the 4-year-old kindergarten program. In Milwaukee, she met Richard(Dick) Goepel and together built a life in Sussex Wisconsin where they raised 4 children. They were married for 56 years until his passing in 2017. After retiring from teaching, she spent time in Bonita Springs Florida, and Hartland Wisconsin. She loved sunshine, bridge, dancing, and people.
Rita had an active social life, was a fantastic mother, phenomenal grandmother, dutiful daughter, trusted sister, tremendous friend, patient teacher and loving wife. Her family meant everything to her, and she always made time for family. Her Catholic faith was very important to her, as was her Irish heritage. She never missed a wedding or a funeral, and always saw the good in people.
Survivors include her 4 children and spouses: Pat (Deb), Dick Jr. (Deb), Dan, and Chris (Kirk) Udovich. She is also blessed with 6 grandchildren: Anthony and Paul Goepel, RJ and Danielle Goepel, and CeAnn and Kylee Udovich. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband Dick Goepel, her parents Pat and Jane McGarty, sisters Ellen McGarty and Alice( Richard) Clark, her brother Jim McGarty, sister-in-law Katherine Beaudet, brother-in-law George Beaudet, and her father-in-law and mother-in-law Francis and Katherine Griebel.
Visitation will be at the Harder Funeral Home, 18700 W Capital Drive, Brookfield, WI Monday January 22nd from 5-6:30pm, followed by a Prayer Service at 6:30pm.
Funeral mass will be at Saint Patrick's Church, Mauston, WI. Tuesday January 23rd. Visitation from 10:30-11:30 AM, Catholic mass at 11:30am, burial to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Wisconsin Chapter.
The family would like to thank all the people who have lovingly helped care for Rita, especially; Katie in Hartland, Laurie in Bonita Springs, all the Brighton Hospice staff, and the staff and caregivers at Heritage Country Living.
We have all been fortunate to have been loved by Rita. Her sense of fun, adventure, empathy and kindness will be missed by everyone she touched!