Rita Josephine Goblirsch

Mass of Christian Burial for Rita Goblirsch, 93, of Wabasso, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 20, 2025, at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Wabasso. A livestream and recording of the service will be available at www.lowafc.org. Visitation will be prior to the service from 9:30 until 11:00 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow at St. Anne’s Catholic Cemetery.

Rita Josephine (Kalkhoff) Goblirsch was born on September 26, 1931, in Three Lakes Township, to Henry and Kathryn (Fangmann) Kalkhoff. She attended a one room country school, then graduated from Wabasso High School. She then attended Mankato Commercial College, and later worked as a sales clerk for JCPenney. Rita was united in marriage to Francis Goblirsch on August 19, 1952, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Clements. The couple raised their family in Wabasso.

Rita liked to stay busy. She took care of the home and children while they were young. She later worked as a cook and library aide for Wabasso Schools while also keeping the books for Goblirsch Motors. Rita loved time spent with family. For 20 years, she cherished time spent as a family at Bowen’s Lodge in Deer River. She also enjoyed traveling, including trips to Rome and the Holy Land, Lourdes and Fatima, Hawaii, and Germany. Rita was very involved with St. Anne’s Catholic Church and School. In her free time, Rita enjoyed quilting, embroidering, and gardening.

Rita died on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at the River Valley Nursing Home in Redwood Falls. She is survived by her children Tom (Lisa) of Eagan, Tim of Wabasso, Paul of Belle Plaine, Bruce (Wendy) of Hastings, Sarah (Dean) of Lino Lakes, and Craig (Nichol) of Lonsdale; 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; sister Beatrice Serbus; as well as many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Francis, grandson John Paul, brothers Bernard, Ernest, and Jerome Kalkhoff, sister Bernice Senkyr, sisters-in-law Louise, Bernice, Dorothy, and Joan Kalkhoff, and brothers-in-law Roger Senkyr and George Serbus.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Anne’s Endowment Fund.