Rita J. Schiller, 93, Pittsville, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Our House in Wisconsin Rapids.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at St. Joachim Catholic Church, Pittsville with Rev. David Ashbeck officiating. A livestream of the service will be available on Rita’s obituary page at rembsfh.com. Private family burial will take place at St. James Cemetery, Vesper at a later date.

Visitation will take place from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Tuesday, May 26 at Buchanan/Rembs Funeral Home, Pittsville with a rosary service at 7:30 pm and from 10:00 am until the time of service on Wednesday at church.

Rita was born on November 19, 1932 in Nekoosa to Hubert and Anna (Mlsna) Elsen. She graduated from Alexander High School in Nekoosa. She was united in marriage to Richard Esser on August 18, 1953 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nekoosa. Together they ran a dairy farm until Richard's passing on April 27, 1967. She later married John Schiller. He died in 2002. Following Richard's death, Rita sold the farm and moved to Pittsville and went back to school. She was hired into the clerical department of the Nekoosa Edwards Paper Mill in 1972, retiring from there July 1, 1991.

She enjoyed collecting salt and pepper shakers, knitting and crocheting, playing the accordion and polka dancing, traveling, camping, and eating M&Ms. She was a member of St. Joachim Catholic Church for 58 years and was very steadfast in her faith. She was also a member of the Red Hats Society.

She is survived by her children, Theresa (Herman) Kohls, Rita Marie Esser (Mark Hudak), Francis (Angie) Esser, James (Terri) Esser, David Esser, and Joseph Esser, son in law, James Schiller, stepchildren, Michael Schiller (Pamela Janicki), Judy (Louie) Janzen, Dawn Fortier, Mary Lou Lewis, and Ronald (Jenn) Schiller, and 31 grandchildren, 64 great grandchildren, 10 great great grandchildren.

She is further survived by her siblings, Ann Eggleston, Angie Senn, Francis (Clara) Elsen, Theresa (Burr) Oxley, and sister in law, Margaret Weinfurter.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, daughters, Kathleen Schiller and Bonnie Esser, son, Johnny Esser, son in law, Steve Lewis, sisters and brothers in law, Rosemary and Roger Huber, Bernard and Rita Esser, and siblings, Richard Elsen, Hubert Elsen, Agnes Hoffman, and Jerome Elsen, and special friend, Charles Regner.