Rita A. Schmidt age 100 a long time resident of Salem, WI. Passed Away peacefully Jan. 15, 2018 at Meadowmere Southport Assisted Living in Kenosha, WI.  She was born on Sept. 15, 1917 in Chicago to Italian Immigrant parents Paul and Rose (Pierochetti) Battistoni, one of eight children.  She attended school in Chicago.  During World War II she assembled radar sets at Western Electric.   On April 1, 1944 Rita and Robert Schmidt Sr. were married in Chicago.  He preceded her in death on Nov. 9, 1978.   They moved to Chincoteague, Virginia where Robert was in the Navy training for deployment to the Pacific.  While there, Rita volunteered at a camp holding Italian and German P.O.W.'s, she was fluent in Italian.  They lived in Chicago for a few years after the war then moved to Salem in 1951.  She was employed as a cook at Salem Grade School for 25 years.  Over the years Rita organized community activities for her sons and friends.

She is survived by her sons Jim (Mary Kay) of Burlington, WI.   Dan (Janet) of California.  Further survived by Brothers Paul (Susan) Battistoni and Dan (Rachel) Battistoni.   Grandmother to Caitlin, Mathew, Jon, Kenneth and Tammy.  Daughters-in-law Shirley and Rosalie.   She was preceded in death by her sons Robert Jr. and Paul, Brothers Gene Battistoni, Louie Battistoni and Marty Battistoni., and her two  Sisters Juanita Grant and Erma Van Horne/Jayson.

Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday Jan. 24, 2018 at 2:00PM at Haase-Lockwood & Assoc. Funeral Home 620 Legion Dr.  Twin Lakes, WI.   Visitation will be held from 11:00AM until the time of services.  Interment will be at St. Alphonsus Cemetery in New Munster, WI.

Special thanks to staff and friends at Meadowmere.  Also, thanks to Hospice Alliance.  In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Alliance of Kenosha 10220 Prairie Ridge Blvd.  Pleasant Prairie, WI. 53158. Online condolences Haaselockwoodfhs.com.  The Haase-Lockwood & Assoc. Funeral Home of Twin Lakes, WI. is assisting the family.