Rita Hawthorne

Farnhamville - Rita J. Hawthorne, age 80, passed away on March 19, 2025, at Accura HealthCare in Lake City, Iowa.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on March 25, 2025, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Farnhamville with Pastor Aaron Zimmerman officiating. Burial will follow at Reading Township Cemetery in Farnhamville. A visitation will be held on March 24, 2025, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. The funeral service will be live-streamed via the church's Facebook page at Holy Trinity LCMS Men's Ministry Farnhamville. Laufersweiler Palmer & Sons Funeral Home is serving the family.

Rita Jean Jensen, the daughter of Maurice and Charlotte (Parr) Jensen, was born June 10, 1944, in Sioux City, Iowa. She attended school at Castana Consolidated School graduating in the class of 1962.

After high school, Rita attended Commercial Extension Business School in Omaha, Nebraska. After graduation, she worked at New Idea Manufacturing in Fort Dodge.

On November 28, 1965, Rita married Merrill Hawthorne at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Farnhamville. They shared nearly 60 years together. The couple was blessed with two children, Nancy and Mark.

Rita was active in the church and sang in the choir. She was a member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Ladies Aid, and Lutheran Women's Missionary League serving as District LWML Treasurer. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, and living on the farm.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband Merrill Hawthorne of Farnhamville; daughter, Nancy (Mark) Hecker of Lee's Summit, MO; son, Mark (Susan) Hawthorne of Lohrville; grandchildren Morgan and Josh Hecker, Jessi (Jared) Pitts, Kodi (Mary) Hawthorne, and Max Hawthorne; great-grandchildren Emerson and Kellen Pitts; Maverick, Walker, and Retta Hawthorne; sisters Karen Jones of Wakefield, NE and Janet (Mike) Erwin of New Virginia, IA; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents Maurice and Charlotte (Parr) Jensen, and brothers Maurice "Sonny" Jensen, Jr., and James "Jim" Jensen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Farnhamville.