Rita Veronica (Kempf) Martin

Rita Veronica Martin, 99 1/2, passed away on Saturday, August 21, 2021, at her home in Pilot Grove, MO.

Rita was born on February 14, 1922, in Pilot Grove, to Henry and Clara (Muessig) Kempf, who preceded her in death.

Rita was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.  She attended St. Joseph Catholic School in Pilot Grove, MO.  Rita distinguished herself by being an employee of a telephone company, a school lunch director, a bookkeeper for MFA, a dairy farmer, 4-H leader, and an avid gardener. She married Bernard Joseph Martin, Sr. on April 22, 1946 in Pilot Grove, MO.

Rita was best known for her strong faith, and being a devoted wife, and loving mother.  Rita was an exemplary homemaker, enjoyed quilting, crocheting, embroidering, making her Rita rolls, and wearing her Rita red lipstick.

She is survived by three daughters, Kathryn L. (Kay) Strom (Gary), Hartsburg, Marilyn R. Franken, Tipton, Jennifer E. Petree (Randall), Tipton; nine grandchildren, Brett Harrison (Tiffany), Bradley Harrison (Stephanie), Jenell Franken, Daniel Franken, Marcus Petree, Kayla Petree, Laura Petree, Jessica Schepers (E. Tyler), and Angela Fox (Sheldon); five great grandchildren Olivia Harrison, Jorja Harrison, Avery Harrison, Thatcher Harrison, and Victor Harrison and two on the way; a sister-in-law Mildred Moore (Marshall) and a brother-in-law William A. Lang (Boonville).

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son Bernard Joseph Martin, Jr; her son-in-law Leo Franken, her brothers Jerome, Harold, Leo, Urban, Joseph, Walter, and Francis Kempf, John, and Frank Klenklen, and her sisters Olivia, and Martha Klenklen and Lorene, Margaret, Gertrude, and Isabell Kempf.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 27, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pilot Grove, with Fr. Mark Smith officiating.

A Rosary will be held at 5:30 pm, Thursday, August 26, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pilot Grove followed by visitation until 8:00 pm.

Pallbearers will be Brett Harrison, Bradley Harrison, Daniel Franken, Marcus Petree, Tyler Schepers, and Sheldon Fox.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Gregory Kempf, Richard Whitney, Betty J. Vollmer (caregiver), Carla Gerling, and Jaclyn Inskeep.

Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church.