Rita Griebel

Rita Jane Griebel, RN, age 72, of Middleton and Plymouth, WI and Gibsonia, PA, passed away on the ICU
floor at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, WI on May 21, 2022 (the same day her father
Gunther passed away in 2000) after an unexpected health catastrophe.
Rita’s spirit flew free surrounded by her sister Sue, three dear friends and fellow nurses; Chris, Ellen, and
Sue. Rita’s spirit soared even higher as she listened to her PA family (nephew Ben and his family) say
goodbye.
Rita was born on September, 16, 1949 to Hannah (Tostman) and Gunther Griebel in Braunschweig,
Germany. In 1953 she traveled with her parents to the United States where they made their home in
Elkhart Lake, WI later settling in Plymouth, WI.
Rita attended Plymouth schools, graduating from Plymouth High School in 1967 (the last year that
Riverview was the high school!). Rita went on to study nursing at St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing;
graduating in 1970 (Ellen was a fellow graduate of Rita’s and a friend of Rita’s for over 50 years). Rita
began her nursing career at St. Mary’s Hospital as an ICU nurse. She was one of the original members of
the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, beginning a lifelong journey in ICU nursing and with St. Mary’s Hospital.
Rita retired from St. Mary’s in 2015 after 45 years of nursing (both as a floor nurse and supervisor) at the
same hospital she started at in 1970. The life cycle moment of Rita’s life ending on the ward she loved to
serve on was not lost on all the people who surrounded her the day of her passing: family; friends; and
staff (some staff having worked with Rita, and others that just knew the ‘legend’). Rita demonstrated the
epitome of a Professional Nurse. She also was the type of friend that everyone desired to have.
Rita was preceded in death by her mother and father Hannah and Gunther Griebel. She is survived by
her sister Susan Kaiser (husband Gary), nephew Benjamin Kaiser (wife Jill) and grand-niece Adalind
Emory Kaiser. Rita’s nephew and grand-niece were like a son and granddaughter to Rita. Rita is further
survived by her Godmother and name sake, Rita Degen (and the Degen family) and multiple ‘adopted
German’ relatives from the families of: Buehmann, Lohoff and Neuert.
A Celebration of Life Open House will be held at Salem Green Apartments on Saturday, June 4 th from
2pm-4pm. Anyone wishing to lift up in joy their part in Rita’s life is welcome to come and spread that
joy. No memorial fund is being established. Rita was very self-sufficient. Please feel free to donate to
your favorite charity what you might have given to a memorial fund.
A special thanks from Rita’s sister Sue to:
The entire St. Mary’s ICU staff that took care of not only Rita, but all of us at her bedside on May 21 st .
Sierra an outstanding RN, who was one of the ICU nurses attending to Rita. Her kindness, compassion
and empathy proved that ‘the legend’ was living on.
Chris, Ellen and Sue for being Rita’s best friends who were with her to the end.
‘Sister’ Barb, for always being there for me; especially now.
The list of people to thank could go on and on. Please know that your positive thoughts and energy are
felt and hugs will be accepted if I see you.