Rita Cihak loved the outdoors and all animals. She was especially adept at animal husbandry on her family's farm and had a special talent for rescuing all kinds of animals, from cats and dogs to pot belly pigs. Her firm and gentle nature allowed her to bring them back to healthy and productive lives. Rita also loved to travel, and she spent time in Australia and New Zealand snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef. At age 31, Rita suffered a fatal epileptic seizure. She became an organ, cornea and tissue donor in keeping with her nurturing and giving spirit, and with the hopes of helping more than 60 people through her gifts.

Rita's Story

Rita Marie Cihak lived in Jackson County her whole life and graduated from University of Minnesota, West Jackson Campus with a degree in mechanics. While in school, she developed her love of transmission repair.

Along with her family, Rita worked on the family farm west of Jackson. She was adept at all phases of animal husbandry from cattle and sheep, to horses, donkeys, and the occasional swine. Rita had a special talent and rescued many animals including cats, dogs, pot belly pigs and even a grey fox. Her firm but gentle soul and nature enabled her to bring the animals back to a healthy and productive life. Her pride and joy was her curly-haired horse, Jem. Her love of animals led her to creating Rita's Critters for Good Samaritan Jackson and Head Start.

Known for her dry, quick wit and intelligence, Rita enjoyed many types of activities. She went raccoon hunting with her brothers and became an expert marksman under her father's training. She also liked photography as well as cross stitching, baking pies, and going to the movies. Rita loved to travel and seized any opportunity to go on a trip. Her favorite was three weeks in Australia and New Zealand, where she snorkeled at the Great Barrier Reef and went on a "Lord of the Rings" location tour.

At age 31, Rita became an organ, corneal and tissue donor after she suffered a fatal epileptic seizure near her Jackson farm on August 10, 2013.

"Rita was a gift and a gift-giving person, not only with her time and energy, but with her very life," said her mother, Judy Cihak. "More than 60 people will benefit from Rita's most precious gift. People who have never known her will have the chance to be touched by her life as the beneficiaries."