Rita M. Pongratz, 86 of Auburndale died peacefully on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at Ministry St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10am Friday, July 31, 2015 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Auburndale with Fr. Jesse Burish, Fr. Donald Tauscher, OSB and Fr. Peter Raj, officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitations will be 4-8pm Thursday at Rembs Funeral Home in Marshfield and again on Friday at the church from 9am until time of service. There will be a 4pm parish rosary service on Thursday at Rembs Funeral Home. Rita was born on January 23, 1929 on the family farm to George and Dorothea (Haasl) Tauscher. She attended St. Kilian's Parochial in Blenker and also in Marshfield. She was united in marriage to Robert J. Pongratz on September 7, 1953 at St. Kilian's Catholic Church in Blenker. After her marriage, she farmed with her husband in the town of Auburndale, raised six children and worked as a CNA at St. Joseph's Hospital for many years and later at the information desk. She enjoyed volunteering and especially making caps for the new born babies at St. Joseph's Hospital. She is survived by husband Robert, children, Mary (Rick) Boettner of Oconomowoc, Randy (Nancy) Pongratz of Milladore, Paul (Petrine) Pongratz of Auburndale, Ann (Steven) Krueger of Casper, WY, Gerine (Todd) Pongratz of Rosemount, MN, Eric (Evie) Pongratz of Sun Prairie; 15 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Rita is further survived by nine siblings, Anna Rudy of Indiana, Norbert Tauscher of Wisconsin Rapids, Gladys Kobishop of West Allis, Laurene (Jerry) Braunsky of Auburndale, Mary Tauscher Milwaukee, Agnes (Fritz) Link of Wisconsin Rapids, Fr. Donald Tauscher, OSB of St. John's Abbey, MN, Doris Tauscher of Wisconsin Rapids, Leon (Beth) Tauscher of Colorado and a sister-in-law Diane Tauscher of Auburndale along with many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers Ray and Dennis, two brothers-in-law Fred Rudy and Harlan Kobishop, sister-in-law Dorothy Tauscher. Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com