Rita J. Morman

GLANDORF – Rita J. Morman, 86, of Glandorf, passed away at 6:10 a.m., Friday, August 21, 2026, at The Meadows of Ottawa. She was born May 20, 1940, in Kalida to the late Louis and Molly (Meyer) Osterhage. On October 14, 1961, she married Roy Morman, who survives in Glandorf.

Other survivors include four children: Gary (Lisa) Morman of Archbold, Sharon (Martin) Zender of Ottawa, Linda (Bruce) Schroeder of Glandorf, and Jeff (Kathleen) Morman of Moscow, PA; 14 grandchildren: Maelinn (Dylan) Myers, Ryan (Leah) Zender, Kristen (Jordan) Laudick, Tyler (Kelsey) Zender, Kaylee Zender, Heather (Colby) Meuleman, Jacob Schroeder, Tory Schroeder, Ashley Schroeder, Bryant Schroeder, Justin Morman, Megan Morman, Brice Morman and Kaitlyn Morman; 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters: Marie Langhals of Kalida and Ruth Ann (Dave) Manley of Hinckley; and a brother-in-law, Jerry Kuhlman of Ottawa.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Anne Marie Morman; ten siblings: Al (Pauline) Osterhage, Mildred (Wilbur) Remlinger, Cecelia (Don) Gerdeman, Eugene (Rosalia) Osterhage, Paul (Dorothy) Osterhage, Rose (Joe) Kistler, Julie (Dave) Hamilton, Fr. Louis Osterhage, Bob (Joan) Osterhage, Joan Kuhlman; and a brother-in-law, Joe Langhals.

Rita graduated from Kalida High School and worked many years as a librarian at the Putnam County Library in Ottawa. She loved to read and she shared her love of reading (as well as many book recommendations) to everyone who visited the library and with her grandchildren. Rita and her husband Roy resided in Miller City for 41 years before moving to Glandorf in 2006. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Glandorf.

The very most important thing to Rita was family, and everything she did was for the purpose of bringing her family together. Her home was a gathering place every single Sunday for her children and grandchildren for games and home cooked meals. Rita was the best cook in the family. She joked that she was Rachel Ray as her family would gather in the kitchen to watch and learn from her cooking. Her specialty, her famous noodle recipe, has been passed down to her granddaughters who try but can never quite make "Grandma's Noodles" exactly like Rita. Sunday afternoons included wiffle ball outside, giant Jenga tournaments and card lessons. Rita taught all of her 14 grandchildren how to play Euchre (four handed Euchre and six handed Euchre), the card game golf, and the cheat your neighbor card game. Holidays were another special time Rita used to bring her family together. Traditions she initiated like cornhole tournaments (with winners getting $5, bragging rights, and their picture pinned to the basement wall), new board games, and gift exchanges are now core memories for her entire family. Rita was never one to take life too seriously and kept her family laughing and smiling with her sense of humor. She'd ask her grandkids how her cooking was and when they'd respond with the inevitable "It was great, Grandma!" she'd laugh and say, "No - you need to tell me 'It was good, but it could be better. Try again next week and I'll be your taste tester'". She had a million jokes up her sleeve and readily shared them.

Rita will be remembered for a lot of things. She was fiercely loyal to her family; she had a spunky side that came out in her jokes; she was compassionate and welcomed the happy chaos when her home was filled with her children, grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren (and all of the great grandchildren are under the age of seven). She was the life of the party and the person you went to when you needed a pick me up. Her biggest impact might be that she shared her faith and love for Jesus with her children and that faith has been passed on to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had a remarkable life and will be dearly missed.

Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, August 27, 2026, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf with Fr. Matt Keller officiating. Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, with a parish rosary beginning at 7 p.m., and again on Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m. at LOVE FUNERAL HOME, Ottawa. Burial will be Saturday, August 29, 2026 at St. Nicholas Cemetery, Miller City.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Putnam County Hospice.

Condolences may be expressed at www.loveheitmeyer.com.