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STERLING – Rita M. VanDeVelde, 83, of Sterling, died Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, at Genesis East Medical Center, Davenport, Iowa. She was a schoolteacher in a one-room school in Whiteside County, and taught at Harlem Grade School, Rockford, and Wallace Grade School, Sterling, before raising her family. She also worked closely with her husband for many years at Velde Distributorship, Des Moines, Iowa.
Rita was born July 18, 1928, in Deer Grove, the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth “Bessie” Callahan. She was united in marriage to Robert VanDeVelde on Aug. 5, 1950, at St. Mary Church, Tampico. She was educated at Deer Grove Grade School, Tampico High School and Mount St. Clare College, Clinton, Iowa. She lived in Rockford, Sterling and Des Moines, Iowa, during her lifetime.
She was a member of St. Mary Church, Sterling, and the Altar and Rosary Society, and was a former member of St. Bridget Altar and Rosary Society, Rockford, and St. Pius Altar and Rosary Society, Urbandale, Iowa.
She is survived by her husband, Robert of Sterling; one daughter, Christine (Donald) Luskin of Portola Valley, Calif.; two sons, Bruce (Debbie) VanDeVelde of Ruston, La., and Craig (Debbie) VanDeVelde of Naperville; six grandchildren, Roark Luskin of Nashville, Tenn., Ashley VanDeVelde of Ruston, Trevor, Caitlyn, and Sean VanDeVelde, all of Naperville, and Callahan VanDeVelde of Palatine; and nine nieces.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Mark; and sisters, Jane and Joan.
Visitation will be from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., with the rosary recited at 4 p.m., Thursday at McDonald Funeral Home, Sterling. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary Catholic Church, Tampico, with Monsignor Thomas L. Dzielak, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Tampico. Arrangements were completed by Garland Funeral Home, Tampico.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to St. Mary Church, Tampico, St. Mary Grade School, Sterling, and Honor Flight of the Quad Cities.
Visit www.garlandfuneralhome.com to send condolences.