Rita M. Knoerr

Rita M. (Schaefer) Knoerr, age 74 of Linn, Mo passed away Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at Oak Tree Villa in Jefferson City.

She was born on April 11, 1934 in Jefferson City to the late Hugo W. and Johanna (Maasen) Schaefer.

She attended grade school and high school at St Peters School in Jefferson City, graduating in 1952. On August 18, 1954 she was united in marriage to Wilbur F. Knoerr at St Peter's Catholic
Church in Jefferson City. He survives of the home. She worked as Linn District Cashier at Missouri Power and Light Company for over nine years and as a bookkeeper for Hometown Building Center in Linn for eighteen years.

Rita was a member of St George Catholic Church in Linn and past president and treasurer for the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary. She was active in the Linn Jaycee Wives, serving as president and treasurer and also in the National Farmers Organization while living with her husband on the family farm in Linn.

In additional to her husband she is survived by one sister, Marilyn and her husband Dave Whitener of Taos, three sister-in-laws, Catherine and her husband Al Balkenbush and Marie Thompson both of Linn and Dorothy Nilges of Bourbon, and a brother-in-law, Robert Stewart of Ohio. Rita was preceded in death by a brother Ralph Schaefer, three brother-in-laws, John R. Knoerr, L.V. Thompson and James R. Beller and four sister-in-laws, Laura Knoerr, Helen Reed, Cora Beller and Laurine Stewart.

Visitation will be 9:00am-11:00am Saturday, September 27, 2008 at Morton Chapel in Linn.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00am Saturday, September 27, 2008 at St. George Church in Linn with Fr. I.C. Medina as the Celebrant. Burial will follow in the Knoerr Family Cemetery in Linn. A celebration of Rita's life with dinner and beer will be held after the services.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to St. George School or Activity Center.