Rita Mae (Hilby) Berning, 85, of Cuba City, WI, formerly of Sinsinawa, WI, passed away on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at home, following a brief illness.

Family and friends may call from 9:30 – 10:45 A/M, on Monday, August 14, 2023, at St. Joseph's Church, Sinsinawa, WI, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A/M, on Monday, with Fr. Peter Auer officiating.  Burial will be in the Church Cemetery.

The Miller Funeral Home, of East Dubuque, is serving the family.

Rita was born on April 8, 1938, at home in Menominee, IL, the daughter of Leo J. and Sophia M. (Wubben) Hilby.  She was a graduate of St. Clara Academy at Sinsinawa, the class of 1956. On September 3, 1960, she was united in marriage to Louis J. Berning at Nativity BVM Catholic Church at Menominee.

She was a homemaker, drove school bus, and was employed in the bakery at Sinsinawa Mound for 15 years. Rita loved quilting, sewing, cross-stitch, bowling, hunting, fishing, time spent up north with her family, and attending her grandchildren and great-grandchildren's activities. Rita was an avid Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers fan.

She was a member of St. Joseph's Parish and its Council of Catholic Women.

Surviving are her husband, Louie; four daughters, Barb (Terry) Temperly, of Platteville, WI, Karen (Mick) Schultz, of Grand Mound, IA, Sharon (Dale) Kaiser, of Cuba City, WI, and JoAnn (Jay) Roussel, Durango, IA; daughter-in-law, Kathy Berning, of Hazel Green, WI; 16-grandchildren and 36-great-grandchildren; a brother, Kenny Hilby, of Menominee, IL; and a sister, Lorraine Wills, of Cuba City, WI; and brother-in-law, Wayne Arand, of Stillman Valley, IL; and sisters-in-law, Marion Goerdt, of Clinton, IA, and Eileen Hilby, of East Dubuque, IL.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Sophia; a son, Dennis M. Berning; siblings, Cletus (Lois) Hilby, Merlin Hilby, Viola (Bob) Scharpf, Rosetta Arand; and sister-in-law, Janice Hilby.

Louie and family wish to thank the nurses and staff from Hospice of Dubuque and Dr. Cheryl Morgan-Ihrig for their care and kindness.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.millerfhed.com©