Rita M. Knabel, 99, a life-long Dubuque native, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2020 at St. Mary’s Apartments in Dubuque, Iowa.

A private family burial service will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery with Sr. Margaret Ann Kramer officiating. Due to the COVID pandemic, a celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family.

She was a long-time member of St. Anthony’s Parish in Dubuque where she was active in the Rosary Society. She graduated from Senior High School in Dubuque and later worked in the cafeteria there.

Rita always enjoyed meeting people, reading books about history, playing cards (especially cribbage) and watching politics and her favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs, on TV. She always enjoyed talking and laughing with people, especially when sharing wine during her many 4 P.M. “happy hours”.

She was preceded in death by her mother Celia Roediger Lange, her father John C. Lange, her husband Joseph F. Knabel, and her sister Lucille Schmalz, all of Dubuque.

Survivors include her younger siblings, including her other two sisters Betty Knabel and Phyllis Blickman of Dubuque and her three brothers: Martin, Carl (wife Mary) Lange of Dubuque and Father John Lange, who is a Maryknoll missioner in Tanzania, Africa. Survivors also include her three children, Richard (wife Sharee) Knabel of Maquoketa, Iowa, Stephen (wife Pat) Knabel of State College, PA and Carol Knabel of Conifer, CO. Rita is also survived by 7 grandchildren (Jay, Julie, Jessica, Louis, Genevieve, Samantha and Beau) and 8 great grandchildren.

She was deeply loved by her family and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her. Rita’s children would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque for her excellent care.

Condolences can be left at www.leonardfuneralhome.com and memorial donations can be made to Hospice of Dubuque.