Rita Sloan

(From Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home)

Rita (Sue) Sloan passed into the Lord's arms peacefully Tuesday, July 18, 2023 with family by her side.

Rita was born July 5, 1938 to the union of Paul & Lisbeth Barthel in Gorlitz, East Germany. She grew up under the communist doctrine. She had a strong Lutheran upbringing and didn't agree with the doctrine and joining "The Party". She was outspoken about her beliefs. The family/relatives feared for her safety. At the age of 18(1957) she took a train to West Germany to live with relatives.

After completing her formal school training, she attended a technical trade school in Culinary. Thus, beginning her food/hospitality career.

While working at the Army commissary in 1959 she met the love of her life Tony Ray Sloan who was stationed there with the Army. They married April 14, 1960 in Bad Hersfeld, West Germany. In June 1961 they returned to the United States to start their new life together. Upon return, she spoke very little English but taught herself with the help of Tony sending her letters back to her marked in red with corrections.

After Tony retired from the Army 1969, family moved to Joplin. She worked at Mickey Mantle Holiday Inn for several years. John Q Hammonds approached her & ask her be his Director of Catering for his new facility being built. She worked there for 18 years & then 12 years as Manager for Club 1201. She loved & had such a passion for the industry. She was well known & respected for her talents & personality pulse. She loved to do anything outside with flowers and/or gardening. Her landscaping was like a picture out of a Southern Living. She always said it was her therapy.

She loved her family & found so much joy in spending time with them. Whether it was 4-H projects, school functions, the lake life, she was always right in the middle of it all & our biggest cheerleader. She enjoyed traveling whether it as with Tony to Hot Springs for horse races or fishing trips to Texas & of course her trips to Germany to see family. She was always so proud that she was able to take each granddaughter to Germany to meet family & see her home town. Then in later years our road trips to Ohio to see those girls!

Rita was a strong woman of faith & enjoyed/loved her church family at Peace Lutheran. The adventures she shared with her little ladies & weekly card games brought her so much joy & entertainment.

Rita was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years & parents. She is survived by her children Sylvia Sloan (Terry) Joplin, Scott Sloan (April) Amarillo, TX, Rodney Sloan (Diana) Joplin. Her 3 beautiful granddaughters that she absolutely adored, Hannah Stikeleather (Ty) Laura, Ohio, Braydee Sirch (Tom) Troy, Ohio, Shelby Schleuning (Matthew) Diamond. Her littlest joys great grands Briggs & Baylor Stikeleather, Rhett & Niko Schleuning. Her sister Alley (Dieter), various nieces & nephews in Germany.

Heartful thankyou to Westgate @ Wild Wood Ranch & Three Rivers Hospice for the love & compassion you showed our Mom/Nanny while under your care.

In lieu of flowers, please make donation in her honor thru the mortuary to Joplin Humane Society or Faithful Friends Animal Advocates.

Memorial services are 12:00 noon, Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Peace Lutheran Church in Joplin with Pastor Rich Gates officiating. Burial will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home in Webb City, Missouri.