Obituary of Rita Ann Hartmann

Visitation for Rita Ann Hartmann of Lake St. Louis, formerly Eolia, MO, will be from 4 - 6 pm on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry, MO. The Funeral Service will follow at 6 pm. Rev. Stephen McLane, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church near Elsberry, MO., will officiate. Graveside Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at Greenwood Cemetery near Clarksville, MO. Rita, 82, passed away Sunday afternoon, January 4, 2026, on hospice care at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, MO. Born January 21, 1943, in Peotone, IL, she was the daughter of Carl O. and Enga M. (Bohnsack) Toepper. Rita was united in marriage on February 17, 1968, in Peotone, to Ronald Dale Hartmann. This union was blessed with one daughter, Tammy. Rita worked for Monsanto for 27 years before retiring in September 1997. She educated herself by reading, listening to KMOX radio, and paying attention to local, national, and international news. Rita was a great listener, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, always thinking of others. She was a long-time supporter of Options for Women. She always enjoyed gardening, a hobby that likely originated in her youth, being the daughter of farming parents in Illinois. Her plans to grow bush beans and lettuce in her raised bed this spring support that. She loved her family and friends very much and, with great joy, has always been interested in, and actively supportive of them. Rita enjoyed monthly get-togethers with lady friends at local restaurants of their choosing. Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Enga Toepper; her brother, Gary Toepper; and her beloved husband of 54 years, Ron Hartmann, who died on March 6, 2022. Survivors include their daughter, Tammy Dennis, and her husband, Steve, of Dardenne Prairie, MO; along with two grandchildren: Mikayla Johnson and her husband, Mark, of Jefferson City, MO, and Thomas Mattingly of Lake St. Louis, MO. Rita also leaves two brothers: Randy Toepper and his wife, Lori, and Allen Toepper and his wife, Jean, all of Illinois; her nieces and nephews: Sheri Hartmann, Tom Toepper and his wife, Debbie, Todd Toepper and his wife, Leslie, Tricia Johanson and her husband, Bob, Doug Toepper and his wife, Celena, Carli Gauwitz and her husband, Graham, and Bobbi Loudon and her husband, Kendall; along with many other cherished relatives and friends. Memorials may be made to Options for Women in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South 5th Street, Elsberry, MO 63343.