Rita Foegen

Rita M. Foegen, 90, formerly of Waumandee/Arcadia, died on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at St. Anne’s Extended Healthcare of Winona under the care of Winona Hospice.

Rita was born on March 9, 1935, in Waumandee to Fred and Wilma (Schmidtknecht) Zeller. She was united in marriage to Norbert Foegen on April 23, 1955, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waumandee. She was a lifelong member of St. Boniface Catholic Church where she served on the Alter Society and faithfully prayed the Rosary. Norbert and Rita farmed on Canada Ridge, where they raised their 5 children. Rita devoted her life to her faith and family and enjoyed being surrounded by her grandchildren. She loved tending to her flowers and garden, canning and baking- especially, birthday cakes and coffee cakes. Rita would also sew clothing for her children in younger years and later did crafting such as crocheting and plastic canvas sewing. She also enjoyed dancing to polka music with her husband, especially at the Hilltop Ballroom. After retirement from farming, Norbert and Rita worked at Watkins Distribution Center, in Winona for 11 years.

Rita is survived by her sons: David (Roxanne) Foegen of Winona, Thomas (Eileen) Foegen of Rochester, Allen (Kelly) Foegen of Winona; daughters: Janet (Rollie) Mueller of Arcadia, Carol (Frank) Galewski of Trempealeau; grandchildren: Lisa (Justin) Eide, Krissa (Josh Jacobo) Foegen, Kelly Foegen, Tyler Foegen, Ryan (Chelsea Kerwin) Gardiner, Kevin (Staci) Gardiner, Aiden Foegen, Sydney Foegen, Keanna (Casey) Brown; great grandchildren: Brynna Kelly, Ryia Brown, Caroline, William and George Eide, Mason and Logan Kerwin, and Bayli Gardiner; brothers: Cletus Zeller and Francis (Vickie) Zeller; and sister: Michaelene Heinz.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Norbert in 2015; siblings: Roscoe “Russ” (Ann) Zeller, Cecelia (Ivan) Braem, Rudolph (Elaine) Zeller; and brother-in-law: Ray Heinz.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at St. Boniface Catholic Church with Father Albert Sahayara Antonysamy and Father Kyle Laylan co-officiating. Family and friends are welcome for visitation on Friday, October 24, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Wozney-Killian Funeral Home, where there will be a 7:00 p.m. rosary, and also from 10 a.m. until the time of mass at church on Saturday. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Rita’s family wishes to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to the staff of Callista Court and St. Anne’s for all of their care, compassion and kindness to Rita and her family over the years. To express condolences to her family online, please visit www.wozneykillianfh.com.