Margaret Rourke

MARGARET ROURKE

Cedar Rapids

Margaret C. Rourke, 94, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Oskaloosa, died Thursday, May 28, 2015, at Hiawatha Care Center in Hiawatha.

Margaret was born Dec. 21, 1920, in Cedar Rapids,

Iowa, the 10th of 11 children born to Frank and Anna Hasso Patik. She attended St. Ludmila School through eighth grade. She enjoyed working for the family road construction business, then provided childcare, and last went to work at Quaker Oats and Colonial Bakery. On Jan. 16, 1951, she was united in marriage to Marcus Rourke at St. Ludmila's Catholic Church

in Cedar Rapids. They first lived in Oxford before moving to a farm near Oskaloosa. In 1997, Margaret moved to assisted living in Cedar Rapids.

Margaret was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oskaloosa. She loved to garden, listen to talk radio and play the piano.

She was a devout Catholic with a compassion for the poor. Her passion for the poor was inspired by Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity. She also supported needy children overseas through the Foster Parents Mission Club of PIME Missionaries.

Her family includes her children, Mary Rourke of Davenport, Cathy (Roger) Soukup of Cedar Rapids, John Rourke of Cedar Rapids and Jane Rourke of Oskaloosa; four grand-children, Richard (Tiffany) Soukup, Julie (Kyle) Hanson, Amy and Kristin Soukup; a great-grandson, Parker Hanson; a sister-in-law, Barbara Ellen Patik of Cedar Rapids; and many nieces and nephews.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Marcus; six brothers, Andrew, Frank, Dan, Joe, the Rev. Anthony Patik SVD and George Patik; four sisters, Helen, Mary, Agnes and Sister Claire Marie Patik CHM.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oskaloosa, with the Rev. Jeff Belger officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa is in charge of arrangements. A decade of the rosary will be prayed at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Bates Funeral Chapel. Following the prayers the family will be present to greet friends and relatives until 10:45, at which time a procession will form to go to St. Mary's Catholic Church for Mass.

Memorials may be made to PIME Foster Parents.

Margaret's family wishes to especially thank the staff at Evergreen Estates I, Promise House Assisted Living and the Hiawatha Care Center for its wonderful care. The family also thanks Dr. Mary Anne Nelson for many visits and care for Margaret.