Christine E. Rinken, 100, died Monday, February 4, 2008 at Regional Health Services Hospital in Cresco, Iowa of natural causes.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 8, 2008 at Notre Dame Catholic Church, with burial in Calvary Cemetery, both in Cresco, Iowa. Rev. Richard Ament will officiate. The family will place the pall on the casket at the beginning of the service, Readers will be Terri Stephenson and Tricia Rinken, the gifts will be carried by the granddaughters and William Rinken will be Eucharist Minister. Marilyn Novak will accompany Katie Ferrie as they sing, "Be Not Afraid", "Amazing Grace", "Eyes Have Not Seen", and "How Great Thou Art". Visitation will be held from 5 p.m until 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Funeral Home in Cresco where there will be a 6:30 p.m. vigil service. Visitation will continue at the church on Friday one hour prior to services.
Christine Elizabeth Rinken was born on May 7, 1907 at Ossian, IA, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Gerleman) Jauert. Following her education, she helped out at home. She was one of nine children.
On January 11, 1936, Christine was united in marriage to Philip Rinken at New Hampton, IA. To this union five children were born: Marie, Robert, LaVerne, Gerald and Kenneth. They lived near New Hampton, Ossian, and Calmar before moving to their present farm near Cresco in 1949. They farmed southeast of Cresco until she entered the nursing home almost two years ago. She raised chickens and capons while they farmed.
Christine enjoyed gardening, knitting, and watching TV. She was an avid Cubs fan. She liked being outdoors and was a hard working woman.
She is survived by one daughter: Marie Neelans of Waterloo, IA; four sons: Robert (Bonnie) Rinken of Decorah, IA; LaVerne (Sandy) Rinken of Greene, IA; Gerald Rinken of Cresco, IA; and Kenneth (Shirley) Rinken of Rochester, MN; 19 grandchildren: Paul, Duane, Jim, Mark, Mary Ellen, and Michael Neelans; Annette and Dean Rinken, Joan Whipple, and William Rinken; Jerome, Allen, and Dale Rinken, Debbie Brase, and Lynn Rinken; Jeannie Nelson, Terri Stephenson, John and Tricia Rinken; 31 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild.
Christine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Philip on April 10, 1984; one grandchild; four brothers: Fredrick, Edward, John and William Jauert; four sisters: Bertilla Knutson, Elizabeth Johnson, Katie Zeman and Amanda Bigler; and a son in-law: James Neelans.