Rita Kathleen Vaughn

Rita Vaughn, 80, of Dayton, Iowa, passed away on Friday, April 25, 2025, at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.

A visitation for Rita will be held from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at the Dayton United Methodist Church in Dayton, Iowa, with a celebration of Life service to be held at 11:00 a.m. Rev. Lyle Hansen will officiate. Inurnment will follow at the Dayton Cemetery. 

Rita Kathleen Zeman was born on August 23, 1944, in Lakota, North Dakota, the daughter of William Edward and Lillian Marie (Hokanson) Zeman. Rita relocated to Sunnyvale, California, after her dad’s passing where she met and married Phillip Allen Vaughn on September 24, 1961. They were blessed with four sons, Phillip Jr. Anthony, Jason, and Andrew. Rita held several jobs over the years but retired from Preferred Risk in 1997. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden, IA, and was previously a 20-year member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Panora before she and her husband moved to Dayton. Phil and Rita enjoyed traveling and wintered in Donna, Texas, for many years.

She is preceded in death by her parents, five siblings, and her grandson, Ryan Vaughn.

Survivors include her husband, Phil Vaughn of Dayton, IA; four sons, Phil Vaughn Jr. of Lawrence, KS, Anthony “Tony” (Sandi) Vaughn of Frasier, IA, Jason (Elaine Wheeling) Vaughn of Dayton, IA, and Andrew Vaughn of Dayton, IA; thirteen grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; one sister, Judy Vaughn of Denison, IA; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.