Rita M. Morgan

Rita Mary (Whitehead) Morgan, age 79, of Zumbrota and formerly of West Dundee, Illinois, passed away peacefully on February 4, 2026, at her home.

Rita was born on June 3, 1946, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, to Leo and Amanda (Hurtz) Whitehead. She attended Cashton area schools and graduated from Viroqua High School.

Rita found love with her husband, Terry Morgan, while he was stationed at Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield, California. The couple married on October 6, 1973, and shared a life rooted in commitment, learning, and devotion. Together they made their home in Illinois, living in Elgin and later West Dundee.

She pursued higher education with determination, graduating from Elgin Community College in 1996, and in 2006 she graduated with honors, receiving her bachelor’s degree in psychology from National Louis University.

For over 20 years, Rita worked for Mercedes-Benz in Carol Stream, Illinois, retiring in 2001. After her retirement, she pursued another vocation and began substitute teaching, as second career choice she truly enjoyed. In 2010, she and Terry moved to Red Wing, Minnesota and more recently to Zumbrota, Minnesota.

Rita was a talented seamstress and had made several costumes and clothing for her daughters as they were growing up and her artistic abilities were also evident in her sculpture pieces she made. Rita also enjoyed gardening and tending to her flowers. Family was of the utmost importance, and Rita had tremendous joy for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved caring for them and was so proud to be a great-grandma.

Rita was a woman of faith and determination, and she entrusted herself to the Lord after a courageous two-and-a-half-year battle with brain cancer. She spent much of that fight participating in glioblastoma research programs, a selfless gift in the hopes to help other cancer patients in the future.

Rita will be remembered for her perseverance, intellect, faith, and deep love for her family. She leaves behind a legacy of strength, compassion, and devotion that will be carried on by those who knew and loved her.

Rita is survived by her husband, Terry Morgan of Zumbrota; daughters, Nicole Morgan of Zumbrota and Nyree (JJ) Jaquith of St. Charles, Illinois. She was a proud and loving grandmother to four grandchildren, Elise (Mitchell) Paroueek, Adia Jaquith (Payton Winslow), Jaiden Jaquith and Theodore “Teddy” Morgan (Micky Lawrence) and a cherished great-grandmother to four great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Luci, Ryder and Wilder. She is also survived by five siblings, Louise Rivieccio of Amsterdam, New York; Roger Whitehead of Mills River, North Carolina; Gerald (Amporn) Whitehead of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Susan (Don) Dopkins of Holcomb, Wisconsin and Curtiss Whitehead of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, David Whitehead.

Funeral mass will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at the Church of St. Paul in Zumbrota with Father Randal Kasel presiding. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Monday, February 9, at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Larson Chapel and for one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place at a later date at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Pine Hollow, Wisconsin. The family appreciates anything given in Rita’s memory, whether flowers or donations. If donations, please consider the Glioblastoma Foundation:  https://glioblastomafoundation.org/get-involved/donate