Brooks, Rita Rose

Rita Rose Brooks, 90, of longtime resident of Coralville, died suddenly Friday, Jan. 18, 2013, at Mercy Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with burial to follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Coralville. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until services Thursday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers in honor of Rita's granddaughter's new heart, memorial donations can be made to the Iowa Donor's Network.

Online condolences can be sent for her family through the web at .

Rita Rose Vitosh was born Nov. 10, 1922, in Iowa City, the daughter of John M. and Loretta E. (Neuzil) Vitosh. She grew up in Iowa City attending schools there. On Nov. 15, 1941, she married Edmund F. Brooks in San Saba, Texas. The couple returned to this area and had lived in Coralville since 1950.

Edmund died on Dec. 14, 1989.

Rita was a longtime member of the Coralville United Methodist Church and the Walter Johnson Post #721 of the Coralville American Legion Auxiliary. Rita was a good cook and baker, her kolaches, Christmas cookies and candies were always her specialty; she enjoyed crocheting having made many afghans over the years.

Her family includes her son, Harry (Lori) Brooks of Coralville; two granddaughters, Tonya Sue (Gerry) Smith of North Liberty and Amber Marie (Josh) Mattheis of North Liberty; stepgranddaughters, Nicci (John) Butler of St. Joseph, Mich. and Jessi (Curt) Jensen of Tipton; three grandchildren, Gavin Smith, Tavian Smith and Taleah Smith; stepgrandchildren, Teagen Butler, Jack Butler, Griffin Butler, Cash Jensen, Shane Jensen and Justine Jensen; sisters, Catherine Conrad of Knoxville and Betty Graham of Colorado; her former daughter-in-law, Ruth Brooks; and four nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Edmund; and two brothers-in-law, Warren Conrad and Leonard Graham.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Rita's family and her services.

Published in The Gazette Jan. 22, 2013.