Rita Jane Parkinson, 94, of Rock Island, passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her family on Sunday, November 22, 2015.

Funeral services and a Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 3030-7th Avenue, Rock Island. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).

Rita Jane Peine was born on May 14, 1921, in Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of Elmer G. and Ida (Kaes) Peine. She married Robert L. Parkinson on October 18, 1947, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Davenport. He preceded her in death on Feb. 27, 2002. She was a wife, mother, and homemaker on the family farm near Taylor Ridge and in their family homes in Milan and Rock Island.

She was an active member of the Altar and Rosary Society of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Edgington and St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Milan. In recent years, she has been a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island.

A graduate of the Immaculate Conception Academy in Davenport, Rita maintained lifelong friendships with twelve of her Class of 1939 classmates who met monthly for "Club" as they raised their families and throughout their lives.

As a member of Civil Air Patrol, Rita taught ground school until the start of World War II at which time she was employed at the Rock Island Arsenal Photo Lab. During her life, Rita enjoyed cooking, entertaining, studying history, and gardening. She and Bob travelled throughout the U.S. and Europe and did genealogical research on the Parkinson family. Much of their leisure time was spent with family, friends, and neighbors.

Rita was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and a dear friend to many. Surviving Rita are her children, Constance Parkinson of Chicago; Robert L. (Elizabeth) Parkinson, Jr., of Northbrook; Anthony (Nancy) Parkinson of Hinsdale; Brian Parkinson of Reynolds; and Mark (Tamara) Parkinson of Moline; fourteen grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; her many nieces and nephews; and her cousins Donald (Rosemary) Kramer of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Martha Raabe of Charlotte, N.C.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert; an infant daughter, Mary Jane; and a brother, John G. Peine, and his wife Virginia. May they all rest in peace.

Online condolence may be left at wheelanpressly.com.