Rita Pomberg

Rita Pomberg, 94, of West Point, Iowa, left this world at 4:32 a.m. Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.

She was born on June 2, 1928, in Fort Madison, Iowa, the daughter of Harold and Anna (Hellige) Grimwood. On October 22, 1949, she married Stan Pomberg at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fort Madison, Iowa (this Saturday they would have celebrated seventy-three years of marriage). After their marriage, they resided on the family farm near West Point, where they raised five children.

Rita’s kind and loving spirit is survived by her husband: Stan; five children: Larry Pomberg of West Point, Iowa, John (Lisa) Pomberg of West Point, Iowa, Linda Ketcham of Marshalltown, Iowa, Linette (John) Boden of Norwalk, Iowa and Wayne (Angela) Pomberg of Kingwood, Texas; fourteen grandchildren: Jeremy Pomberg, Logan Pomberg, Yolanda (Joe) Aring, Robin Pomberg, Dawn Quick, Tyler Pomberg, Mikayla Pomberg, Mike (Kerri) Ketcham, Mark (Natalie) Ketcham, Stephanie (Jason) Adamoyurka, Nathan (Krystal) Boden, Maria (Dakota) Kittle, Andrew (Hilary) Boden and Daniel Boden; eleven great grandchildren: Trevor, Derek, Makenzie, Lexi, Zoey, Jack, Cole, Wyatt, Isabelle, Elizabeth and Catherine. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Harold and Anna; brothers: Ronald, Raymond and Roy Grimwood; sister: Ruthie Casaley; son-in-law: John Ketcham and sister-in-law: Marcy Grimwood.

Rita graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic Central High School in Fort Madison. She was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, the Altar and Rosary Society of the church and the past St. Anne’s Circle Daughters of Isabella. She worked at Sacred Heart Hospital and Sheaffer Pen Co. for five years. During the summers, she spent many days gardening, canning fruits and vegetables for the family. She made the best homemade angel food cakes and pies. Rita worked alongside Stan to help farm, milk a herd of dairy cows, plant, harvest and she would take countless meals out to the fields. Rita loved to be with her grandchildren, teaching them to play cards, bake and help with farm chores. Rita and Stan did a lot of traveling in the United States and other countries. Her father came from England and they traveled to see where the Grimwood family lived before coming to the United States. Rita will be forever in her family’s hearts and she will be dearly missed.

A visitation will begin at 12:00 noon Sunday, October 23, 2022, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point, where the family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A parish rosary will be recited at 2:00 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service will be held at 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 24, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point with Father Dan Dorau as celebrant.

Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in West Point, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her memory for St. Mary’s Catholic Church or West Point Fire and Rescue.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com. Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements.