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Rita J. Fasching Obituary – 7/4/2019


Rita JoAnne Fasching, age 56, of Redwood Falls, formerly of Winsted, passed away Thursday, July 4, 2019, after a very courageous four-month battle with cancer.

Rita was born Feb. 13, 1963, the seventh of 15 children born to Joseph and Anne Fasching.

She graduated from Holy Trinity High School in Winsted, and went on to attend St. Cloud State University, graduating with a degree in special education.

Rita had a love for teaching and helping others, especially those who were less fortunate. She started her teaching career in Buffalo.

In 1990, Rita moved to Redwood Falls and became a special education teacher in the Redwood Falls School District. She would spend the next 30 years of her life making a tremendous impact on the lives of the students she taught, the teachers she worked with, and the entire Redwood Falls community.

Rita immersed herself into the school and the Redwood Falls community. She helped to coordinate the Special Olympics program. She coached seventh-grade volleyball for seven years, and was active in her church.

Rita, having grown up on the family farm, had an incredible love for animals. Besides taking in stray animals, she volunteered at the Redwood Valley Animal Shelter. She also worked at REM – South Central Services, helping those with disabilities; and helped out with the Big Buddies program, always willing to lend a hand and offering a kind smile.

Rita’s passions were her family, her students, and her pets. She always thought of others before she thought of herself. She made sure that if people needed something, she was there to provide it.

Rita was a very thoughtful and giving person. Her parents, who she loved dearly, and her many brothers and sisters were so important to her. She made a point to organize family gatherings to bring her big family together.

A big supporter of Saint John’s football, Rita drove her dad and mom to all of the home games. She adored her students and cared for them like they were her own. She was known to give gifts and buy treats for her students. If you had four legs and were furry, you always found a friend in Rita. She loved her pets and encouraged her family to love them, too.

Rita is survived by her mother, Anne Fasching; and her 14 brothers and sisters: Jim Fasching, Douglas (Vicki) Fasching, Karen (Charlie) Kubesh, Gary (Cindy) Fasching, Sharon (Tony) Vanderlinde, Mary (Brad) Schmidt, Joel (JoEllen) Fasching, Dean (Kate) Fasching, Laura (Paul) Volness, Teresa (Wade) Jagodzinski, Barb Fasching, Gerald (Sara) Fasching, Joleen Fasching, and LuAnn (Harold) Blanchette as well as 32 nieces and nephews.

Rita is a great aunt to nine great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by numerous students, co-workers and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Fasching; sister-in-law Karen Fasching; her very special companion, Jerry Domek; and her pets, her dog Howie, and her special cat “The Gray Beast.”

A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial took place Thursday, July 11 at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Winsted. Father Tony Stubeda and Father Tony Hesse were the concelebrants, Lavon Kielkucki was the organist for the Mass, and Sandy Otto was the vocalist. Honorary urn bearers were Joseph Kubesh and Luke Jagodzinski; and urn bearer was LuAnn Blanchette. Inurnment was at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Winsted.

There was visitation Wednesday, July 10 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the church, with a rosary at 5:30 p.m., and parish prayers at 7:30 p.m.; and further visitation Thursday morning, one hour prior to Mass.

In lieu of flowers, please give to the Special Olympics, or the Redwood Area Animal Shelter.

The Chilson Funeral Home in Winsted served the family. Online condolences may be made to www.chilsonfuneralhome.com.

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