Rita Willuhn

Rita Bernice Sullivan was born on Sunday, January 14, 1934, in Plattsmouth, Nebraska to Donald & Mary Sullivan.  She was the second youngest of 11 children.

The family moved to a farm in Bellevue, Nebraska where Rita graduated from Bellevue High School.  She met and married James (Jim) Willuhn in 1953.

In 1954 they welcomed their first child, Mary Helen (Ken Krofta) followed by Kathleen (Douglas Stimpson) in 1955; Patricia (Pat) (Michael Gibilisco) in 1957; Theresa (Kosmicki) in 1958; Elizabeth (Liz Dix) in 1962; and Joan (Gajewski) in 1965.  After raising their girls, Rita took a position with Hinky Dinky as a Home Center Manager for 15 years.

She was a devout Catholic spending nearly 50 years in the Saint Bernadette parish involved in Altar Society, Perpetual Adoration, and teaching CCD classes. Jim and Rita had a deeply religious experience at the Shrine in Medjugorje. Rita was very proud of her Irish heritage and loved all things Irish, especially Notre Dame football. Family history and genealogy became a happy obsession finding details and pictures about the Sullivans on the many computers she wore out and during day trips to cemeteries and county offices.  A trip to Ireland brought her history to life.

She spent many happy years enjoying her grandchildren, Nathan Krofta, Eric Krofta, Adam Kosmicki, Brian Kosmicki, Lauren Gibilisco (deceased), Megan Cuva, Angela Newmaster, Brianne McDonald, Justin Dix, John Gajewski III, Joe Gajewski, Justin Stimpson, Kristin Eskind, Brendan Stimpson, and Kathryn Clare Stimpson and was thrilled to be part of her 17 great-grandkids lives.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be directed by the family

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