Rita Mills Sears

Rita Mills Sears, 91, of Bettendorf, IA, formerly of Moline, IL, passed away Friday, March 21, 2014, at The Fountains Assisted Living Center in Bettendorf, IA. The visitation for Rita Mills Sears will be Monday, March 24th, from 4pm to 7pm at Wendt Funeral Home in Moline. Funeral services and Mass for Rita Mills Sears, will be Tuesday, March 25th, at 10:30am at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 4097 - 18th Street, Bettendorf, IA. Memorials may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, the Alzheimers Association, or a charity of the donor's choice. The former Rita Haas was born July 9, 1922, in Buffalo, NY, daughter of Remi and Mary Haas. She moved from Buffalo with her parents, brothers, and sisters, to Milwaukee, WI, when she was in her teen years. Rita attended Milwaukee State Teacher's College for a short period of time, and then became a stewardess, working for United Airlines in the DC-3. She loved meeting new people and seeing new placed while working. She met Mailen (Bud) Mills on a blind date through good friends, fell in love, and the two were married six months later on December 3, 1949. They began raising their family in an apartment above a grocery store in Milwaukee. They moved to Moline in 1953, to begin a long hoped for family business, Mills Chevrolet Company, which is still a pillar of the community today. Rita and Bud were very proud of their family and their business, and they loved the Quad Cities. Rita was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Mailen I. Mills, on February 6, 1992. She later married Dr. Lewis Sears on June 11, 1997, and they spent happy years in Moline and Bettendorf, delighting in their family and each other's company. Rita enjoyed skiing, traveling, hiking, golf, and gardening. She was a cherished and loyal member of Chapter K.T. of P.E.O., the Tri-City Garden Club, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Moline, before moving to Iowa and becoming a member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church. Rita loved the beauty of the outdoors, and especially cherished her family and friends. Rita's family would like to extend warm gratitude to the staff of The Fountains in Bettendorf, for treating Rita like a loved family member, and helping to make her last years full of happiness. Rita is survived by three children (and spouses): daughter Mary (Clark Anderson of Golden, CO, and sons Steven Mills of Gunnison, CO, and David (Gretchen) Mills of Moline. Rita also had eight grandchildren: Katie, Megan, Dexter, Devan, Davis, Stephanie, Andrea, and Peter.

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