Rita Christner, 77, of What Cheer died at home on Saturday, April 29, 2017. A graveside funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at the Sixteen Cemetery near Thornburg. Visitation will begin at noon on Tuesday with family present from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in What Cheer. Burial will be in the Sixteen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the What Cheer Library or What Cheer Ball.

Rita Ann Christner was born November 29, 1939 in What Cheer, Iowa the daughter of Gene and Mildred Howard McKay. She was a 1958 graduate of What Cheer High School. Then on September 5, 1959 Rita was united in marriage to Marvin Ray Christner at the Methodist Church in What Cheer. She began her working career as a telephone operator for the What Cheer Telephone Company. After several years as an operator, Rita and Marty built the Shanny Shack in What Cheer. Later they sold the ice cream stand and decided to do what she loved the most which was watching children. Over the years Rita cared for well over ninety children and loved every minute of it. She also enjoyed camping at the state fair, attending Tri-County Alumni gatherings, her morning coffee, anything Christmas, decorating for nearly every holiday and spoiling her grandchildren.

Rita is preceded in death by her parents and a sister Loretta Snyder.

She is survived by her husband, Marty Christner; her son Mitch (Judith) Christner of What Cheer; two sisters, Marilyn (Jack) Kleeman of Ola Grange,GA, and Freda (Ken) Pollock of Indianola; a brother, Tom McKay of New Sharon and her grandchildren Austin Christner of Fort Dodge and Gale Christner of West Des Moines.