Rita Marie Lenhart, 91, of Tama, passed away Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Sunny Hill Care Center in Tama. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, May 1, 2017 at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama with Father Michael Mescher as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Tama. Visitation will be held Monday, May 1, 2017 from 9:30 AM until Mass time at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama.

Rita was born on April 15, 1926, in rural Toledo, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Agnes (Cooper) Brickner.

She graduated from Toledo High School and attended beauty school in Des Moines.

On October 5, 1948, she was united in marriage to Donald Lenhart at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Rita was a beautician starting in Marshalltown at Skinner's and worked most of her career out of her house. She loved being a beautician and her customers. Rita was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama. She belonged to Royal Neighbors. Rita bowled and liked playing cards but her greatest joy was the time she spent with her grandchildren and other family.

Survivors include three children, Pat (Gary) Zigler of Tama, Mick (Rhonda) Lenhart of Tama, and Allan (Deb) Lenhart of Toledo; thirteen grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Don; one grandson, Shawn Zigler; one step-grandson, Justin Hager; one great-grandson, Kyaus Davenport; two sisters, Marquerite Brickner, and Marge Schmidt; and one brother, Lester Brickner.

A memorial fund has been established.