Rita Marie Dachauer

Rita Marie Dachauer 84, peacefully left for Heaven at 3:00 am on Saturday March 9th, 2024 at her home in Athens, Wisconsin

Rita was born on February 20th, 1940 in Norfolk, VA  the second and youngest child of Jacob & Annette Brooks. Her father was in the Navy, and in her early childhood the family settled in San Francisco, CA. Rita grew up with a strong admiration for her brother, Arthur Brooks, who was 10 years older than her. She always deeply enjoyed nature and loved animals and reading books.

In October of 1959, she married John Dachauer, also of San Francisco, CA. They had 4 children together, and in 1978 the family moved from California to Bemidji, MN - which was the area of her mother's family, and where her mother grew up. A few years after moving to Minnesota, John & Rita divorced; John moved back to California and Rita moved to Pennsylvania. Twenty years later, they both moved back to Bemidji, MN and were re-married to each other, to the great joy of their children and grandchildren. In 2005 they moved to Pennsylvania to be closer to two of their children & grandchildren. Then in 2007, they settled in Wausau, Wisconsin where they made their home together until John passed away in October of 2008. Soon after his passing, Rita moved to the countryside in Athens, WI, where she made her home.

She loved visits from family and friends, enjoying the beautiful Wisconsin sunsets and the changing seasons, feeding her wild birds, playing piano, and reading - especially the Bible. Her faith in Jesus strengthened and carried her through the difficult years of dealing with chronic pain and end-stage COPD, and her relationship with Lord deepened as she spent more and more time with Him. She loved sharing her faith and things God was showing her through His word and other books she would read, and messages she would listen to. A book called "Little Pillows and Morning Bells" by Frances Ridley Havergal, was one of her favorites - the pages are very well worn; she also loved the books written by Corrie Ten Boom, especially "The Hiding Place".

Rita will always be greatly loved and missed by her children: Lisa (Victor) Lottice; Julie (Nicholas) Brown; David (Colleen) Dachauer; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and special friends and neighbors.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob & Annette Brooks; brother, Arthur Brooks; husband, John Dachauer; and daughter, Gina Foore.

At Rita's request, there will be no funeral. A private family burial will take place, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband, John Dachauer, at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Maine, WI.

The morning before Rita passed, she told us this would be her last day here - she was going to Heaven. She said the last few days her husband, John, was visiting her, and wanting her to come with him. She said she kept telling him she couldn't come yet - she was busy! Her health declined very rapidly over the course of the next couple days, and the day before her departure she called friends and family, telling them this would be her last day here, that she was going home. She kept telling us she had to go soon, and she wasn't going to be here tomorrow. The night before she left, she was telling us with bright eyes and smiles that this was the best day of her whole life - she was going home to Heaven! At 3 am on Saturday March 9th 2024, she went to be with the Lord.