Rita Gagliardi passed from this life to the next on Saturday, November 19, 2011, at Hospice House in Pleasant Prairie, WI. She was surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on March 30, 1929, in Gaylord, MI, the daughter of Joseph and Josephine (Burzynski) Grusczynski. Her first eight years of schooling were at the one room school house near her home in Gaylord. After that, she attended St. Mary’s High School graduating in 1946. From there, she went to Grand Rapids, MI, to pursue nursing at the Mercy Central School of Nursing. She became a registered nurse in 1950. From 1951 to 1954, she served as a nurse in the United States Air Force where she eventually earned the rank of Captain. She was stationed at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois and later, at Johnson Air Force Base outside of Tokyo, Japan, during the Korean War. It was in Japan that Rita met John L. Gagliardi, a dentist, who was also serving in the United States Air Force. They were married on June 11, 1955, in Gaylord, MI, and settled in Kenosha, WI, which was John’s home town. In addition to raising her family, Rita was involved in several organizations. They included: the American Nurses Association, the Junior Women’s League, St. Mary’s Catholic Church Ladies’ Auxiliary, the Kenosha Dental Auxiliary, Girl Scouts, the Four Seasons Garden Club, and the Kenosha Homemakers’ Association. Her favorite activities, however, were the Maplecrest Ladies’ Golf group that she enjoyed during the summer and the bridge club that she was part of for over fifty years. She also found pleasure in spending time with her grandchildren, reading, flower arranging, traveling, and doing crossword puzzles. Rita loved to learn and was always taking classes that dealt with interests of hers: cooking, sewing, flower arranging, calligraphy, computers, swimming, etc… even piano lessons in her seventies. Later in life, she decided to return to college for her Bachelor of Arts degree. She graduated from the College of St. Francis, Joliet, IL, in 1979. Rita was also generous with her time. During her retirement years with her husband in Florida, she kept herself busy tutoring at a nearby school and participating in the St. Joseph Ministry to the Sick. A thoughtful, gracious woman who added her special touch to all she did, she will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her. In addition to her husband, Rita is survived by her four children: Mary Jo (Carlo) Filippelli, of Kenosha, John (Ruth) Gagliardi, of Salisbury, NC, Thomas (Deborah) Gagliardi, of Kenosha, and Philip (Bernadette) Gagliardi, of Kenosha, as well as nine grandchildren: Samuel Filippelli, Nathan Filippelli, Lydia Filippelli, Benjamin Filippelli, Thomas Gagliardi, Hope Palmer, Adam Gagliardi, Grant Gagliardi, and Emma Gagliardi, and three great-grandchildren: Mason, Addison, and McKenna. She is also survived by several loving in-laws, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, her six siblings: Regina Latusek, Anthony Grusczynski, Clara Jozwiak, Sr. Lauriana Grusczynski, Joseph Grusczynski, and Pat Kramek, and an infant daughter, Raymonda Marie. Her family would like to thank those who cared for her these past years: Dr. Neil Shepler, Dr. Leonid Bouinyi, and the staffs at Brookside Care Center, Supportive Home Care Services, and Hospice House. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 26th, at Proko Funeral Home at 9:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 7400-39th Avenue, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at All Saints Mausoleum with Full Military Honors. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 25th, at Proko Funeral Home from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Donations in memory of Rita Gagliardi can be made to Hospice Alliance or St. Mary Catholic Church.Proko Funeral Home & Crematory5111-60th StreetKenosha, WI 53144Phone: (262) 654-3533Visit Rita’s Online Memorial Book at:www.prokofuneralhome.com