• Visitation will be held on Friday, September 26th, at ALL SAINTS LUTHERAN CHURCH (9131 S. Howell Ave, Oak Creek, Wi) from 11am to 11:30am.
• Memorial service will be held on Friday, September 26th, at ALL SAINTS LUTHERAN CHURCH (9131 S. Howell Ave, Oak Creek, Wi) at 11:30am.

Rita L. Cieszynski

Rita L. Cieszynski (née Gates) joined her beloved husband William and cherished son Scott in eternal life on July 15, 2025, at the age of 89.

Rita lived a life rich in music, friendship, and adventure. A woman of many talents, she was gifted at sewing, a crossword puzzle extraordinaire, an immaculate housekeeper, and a formidable poker player. She loved her music—whether it was playing, listening, or sharing it with others—and was always ready to dance through life with a sassy wit that could match anyone’s.

She was deeply involved with her church, known for remembering birthdays with a card, joining in social activities with the pastor, and participating in her cherished Yoga classes and volunteering for the Boys and Girls group. Her community connections ran deep: she bowled in a local league, spent time working for the golf course at Raymond Heights, and kept in close touch with her high school girlfriends throughout her life.

Rita had a tender heart for animals, sharing her home with eight cats: Casper, Cisco, Ozzie, Tiggy, Alex, Cheeto, Charlie, and Baby Kitty.

She was a road-trip enthusiast, traveling with friends while enjoying pizza and cocktails (vodka and tonic and peach schnapps were among her favorites in particular) after movie nights. Rita was always ready for an adventure—unless it involved swimming—and her travels took her as far as Hawaii, where she built lasting memories with her Hawaiian family on O‘ahu.

Her career included proud work supporting the Apollo Program alongside engineers, and her personal life was filled with games of Yahtzee with her husband that could go on for hours. Though she readily admitted she could not cook (William happily took the role of family chef), she more than made up for it with her warmth, energy, and zest for life.

Rita is survived by her loving daughter Bonnie along with many loving family members and dear friends as well as her adoring cat companions. She will be remembered for her boundless energy, adventurous spirit, and unmatched skill as a “professional conversationalist.”

In honor of Rita’s memory, donations may be made to her beloved church.

A memorial visitation will take place on Friday, September 26th, at 11am at All Saints Lutheran Church (9131 S. Howell Ave, Oak Creek) with a service to follow at 11:30am. A luncheon will be held at The Cellar Bar and Grill in Oak Creek immediately following the service.