Rita D. Melin

Rita D. Melin, 81, of Moline, IL, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 8, 2022, at Clarissa C Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, IA.

Services will be Monday, May 16, 2022, at 10:30 am, at Wendt Funeral Home, Moline, with visitation on Sunday, May 15, 2022, from 2-5 pm. Burial will be in Greenview Memorial Gardens, East Moline, IL.

Memorials may be made to Salem Lutheran Church in Moline, IL, or the Alzheimer's Association.

Rita was born in Moline, IL, on December 3, 1940, to Elizabeth (Hogan) and Glen Sovey. She attended Grant Grade School in Moline and then attended junior and senior high school at The Villa de Chantel in Rock Island, IL, where she graduated in 1958. On scholarship, Rita attended Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, and afterward transferred to Moline Community College, graduating in 1963. It was there she met her future husband, Jon E. Melin. They were married on November 2, 1963.

Rita was awarded a State of Illinois scholarship to attend nursing school in Chicago at Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital (now known as Rush Medical Center). Upon graduation, she worked at East Moline State Hospital and private nursing.

She and Jon then decided to raise a family. They had four boys. Rita juggled private nursing, playing piano at elementary school Christmas programs, attended sports events and Scouts, took the boys to music and choir practice, attended to the nursing needs of the Sisters at the Villa, and had a hot meal on the table every night.

One of her favorite pastimes was playing the piano; she was very accomplished, and that was why she made all of the boys take piano lessons. After the youngest son went off to college, Rita went back to work as a nurse at Arrowhead Ranch, Coal Valley, IL. She retired from nursing in 2007. As her memory began to fail, she especially enjoyed taking part in new medication clinical trials in Chicago.

The family wants to thank the staff of Unity Point Hospice and Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House for their care during Rita's final days.

Rita is survived by her husband, Jon, of 58 years, as well as sons: Kristopher (Ashley) Melin, Tucson, AZ; Dr. Kory (Michelle) Melin, Coal Valley, IL; Kullen (Melinda) Melin, Moline, IL; and Dr. Kurtis Melin of Spartanburg, SC; grandchildren: Jonathan, Daniel, James, Samantha, Mikayla, Jackson, and Lauren; two brothers, Ronald Sovey and Randall (Karen) Sovey; and sister-in-law Sylvia Sovey.

She was preceded in death by a great-grandson, her parents, and her brothers, Richard Sovey and Roger Sovey.

LOVE YA MOM...

Family and friends are invited to express condolences at wendtfuneralhome.com