Rita Florence Rehus Kachlik, 81, Fort Wayne, died peacefully on Dec. 13, 2016, surrounded by loving family. “She was a very devoted wife, mother and grandmother.” Born Feb. 27, 1935, in Chicago, Ill., she was the daughter of Stephan and Anna Zmrazek Rehus. On April 21, 1956, she married the late Robert George Kachlik in Chicago. They lived in Downers Grove, Ill., before moving their family to Warsaw in 1968. She dedicated her life to loving and raising six children and giving them the gift of Catholic faith. She was an active parishioner at Sacred Heart Church and a founding member of Kosciusko County Right to Life. She loved reading, listening to music, cooking, shopping, and spending time with friends and family. She is survived by her children: Diana (spouse Rob) Blazekovich, Marion; Cheryl (spouse Nick) Schortgen, Karen (Pat) Houlihan and Michael Robert Kachlik, all of Fort Wayne; Lisa (spouse Steve) Kroh, Wabash; and Brenda (spouse Joe) McKee, St. Louis, Mo.; 21 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Ann Rehus Paoletti; and a brother, Steve Rehus. She was preceded by her parents and a younger brother, Paul Rehus. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Warsaw, with Father Phil DeVolder and Monsignor Thaddeus Balinda officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday in McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw, and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church. A rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the funeral chapel.
***** Memorials to Women’s Care Center, 4600 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46804; or to Right to Life North Central Indiana, P.O. Box 1162, Warsaw, IN 46581-1162. To sign the guestbook or send condolences electronically, go to mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com.
