Cover photo for Rita Louise Hartsook's Obituary
Rita Louise Hartsook Profile Photo
In Memory Of
Rita Louise Hartsook
1947 2022

Rita Louise Hartsook

August 13, 1947 — August 11, 2022

Rita Louise Hartsook, 74, passed away on August 11, 2022. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Melvin Eugene Richardson and Betty Lee Richardson. Rita lived in Nebraska until she was 2 years old, when her mom and dad divorced and when she moved to Kansas, where she remained the rest of her life.

Rita's mom remarried in 1950 to Robert Vernon Culberson. After his return from the Korean War, (Rita's stepfather) Bob, and her mom Betty had two sons. Robert Stephen Culberson was born 1954 and Robert Vernon Culberson Jr. was born 1957.

Rita and her three siblings attended school in Kansas City, Kansas, and all graduated from Rosedale High School (Rita in 1965). She went on to Kansas City, Kansas Community College and later in life finished her bachelor's degree at MidAmerica Nazarene University.

Rita married John Barnhart in 1968. John joined the Navy, and they were stationed in Puerto Rico, where John Stephen Barnhart was born in 1970. They returned after the Navy, to live in Overland Park, Kansas where their daughter, Jennifer Renee Barnhart, was born in 1972. Rita was a stay-at-home mom for a few years and later worked as a teller for Capital Federal Bank. She also enjoyed working off and on at department stores such as Macys and Dillard's. Rita retired from Johnson County Community College after 25 years of service.

Rita loved tennis and played often in her younger years. Rita's favorite current hobby was water aerobics and she participated in it for several years.

Rita divorced and remarried Dennis Hartsook in 1998. In Dennis' previous marriage, he had one daughter, Deanne, who is married to David Schlimme, and they have four children, Karen, Jonathan, Hannah, and Sarah.

Rita is survived by her children, John Barnhart and Jennifer Ebeling, and her sister, Linda Stiegler. Rita was preceded in death by her mom and dad, her brothers, and two years ago her husband Dennis.

To honor Rita's memory, we are holding a celebration of her life on Thursday August 18th at 10 am at the Penwell-Gabel Olathe Chapel (14275 S. Blackbob). We invite anyone who knew her to attend and remember her wonderful life.

To view a livestream of the service, click here.


To leave a message of condolence for Rita's family, or to share a special memory of Rita, visit the guestbook below.
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Service Schedule

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Service

Thursday, August 18, 2022

Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)

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