Mrs. Rita Jane Greil - Behr

*** PLEASE NOTE NEW LOCATION: COTTON EXCHANGE - PLANTATION ROOM
345 HICKORY HOLLOW DRIVE, WATERFORD, WI 53185 VISITATION THURSDAY 10-12 NOON AND SERVICES WILL BEGIN AT NOON ALL AT COTTON EXCHANGE. ALL FLOWER ORDERS WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO NEW VENUE. NO NEED TO CALL. ***


Behr, Rita Jane (nee. Greil), age 69, of Waterford, joined her husband Gene Louis Behr and the angels of heaven on May 29, 2020.
Rita was born to Joseph and Florence Greil of Waterford, WI, on October 31, 1950. She grew up amidst a thriving dairy farm family and four siblings. On the farm and into her school years, she learned the value of a hard day’s work, but she also nurtured a rich imagination and lasting optimism born out of haymow theatrics, elaborate family parties and practical jokes in the loving company of neighbors, friends and extended family.
She left the farm to attend Milwaukee County Hospital’s nursing program. After 8 years as a registered nurse, she continued her education at Milwaukee County Hospital School of Anesthesia and began her ambitious career as a nurse anesthetist. She worked the majority of her career at Columbia St. Mary’s while always pursuing her hobbies of traveling throughout the United States and Europe, skiing, painting, and estate sale purchasing. She spent her single years living in Port Washington which proved a dreamlike getaway for young nieces and nephews and holiday retreat for family during the annual Fish Days festival. Through it all, she shared her life’s blessings freely and extended her sense of the richness of life with all her company.

By the 1990’s, wishing to move closer to her family’s farm as her parents aged, she settled in Wind Lake, WI. Then came a period of jet-skiing, boating, campfires, gardening, movie nights and home rehab projects turning a simple lake house into a beautiful gathering place for parties year-round.

During this period, she met her Gene, a Navy veteran, and fell in love with a devoted life partner. They were married at Waterford’s St. Thomas Aquinas Church, October 26, 1996 in, no surprise, a wonderfully elaborate celebration surrounded by an extended wedding party—including her many nieces and nephews as attendants.

So began an intimate family life as she became a wife and mother, intent to turn her lifetime of spoiling extended family to that of her husband and three children. She lovingly fostered in this next generation, homeschooling her daughter, and providing guidance in her sons’ lives. Reflecting a fusion of values between Gene and Rita, daughter Emily is serving her country as a corpsman in the U.S. Navy. Later Rita was blessed beyond measure to become a grandmother to Brian and Michelle’s daughter Kathleen.

All the while, she strengthened her union with Gene through their combined support of the ministries and community of Christian faith. Through the very last days of her life, Rita continued to bring joy and smiles to those who surrounded her, including those at the Waterford Memory Care Center.

After a lifetime of laughter shared with all she encountered, above all she leaves a legacy of Christian faith and deep devotion to her beloved daughter Emily Behr and sons Jason Behr and Brian (Michelle) Behr and granddaughter Kathleen. Also survived by her siblings, Mary Jo (Don Carson) Greil, Tom (Nancy) Greil, Donna (Richard) Friemoth, Marsha (John) Napientek.

Rita is preceded in death by her parents, and husband Gene.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 11:45 AM at Cotton Exchange Banquet Hall 345 Hickory Hollow Drive Waterford, Wisconsin, with services beginning at 12:00 PM.
**People not wishing to attend the visitation, may leave condolences on the web site, www.mealyfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Christian Broadcasting Network

** A celebration of Life Will Be Held At A Later Date.

Mealy Funeral Home, Inc
Waterford, Wisconsin
262-534-2233
www.mealyfuneralhome.com