Rita Catherine Penne, 93, of Grinnell died February 9, 2016, at the Mayflower Community Health Care Center. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday, February 15th, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Rev. Ron Hodges, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grinnell, officiating. Pallbearers will be John K. DeMeulenaere, Arthur Furnia, Erin Lyons, Pete Moothart, Tim Moothart, William Smith, Gordon Sumner and Joe Sumner. Burial will be held 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 16th, at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Waterloo. Visitation with the family present will be held two hours prior to service time at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be directed to Grinnell Regional Hospice or St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grinnell. Rita was born December 5, 1922, in Waterloo, the daughter of Thomas and Margaret Koster Meisch. She was raised in Waterloo and was a graduate of St. Mary's High School. She continued her education at Briarcliff College and Gates Business College. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi. Rita was married to John W. "Jack" Penne in Waterloo. The couple lived in Toledo before moving to Grinnell. While living in Toledo, she was a secretary for 9 years at the City Hall in Traer. She enjoyed raising her family in Grinnell and taking care of her home. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, active with St. Mary's Altar and Rosary Society and held a strong Catholic faith. She was also a member of several bridge groups. Rita was a devoted and loving wife and mother, and her families happiness was her reward. She was considered a "2nd mom" to many of the neighborhood kids and her home was always welcomed. She took great pride in maintaining a beautiful home and enjoyed entertaining family and friends. She spent many hours sewing and making clothes and for several years she taught an adult education class on women's clothing lines. She and Jack, for many years, enjoyed boating on several lakes in Iowa and later on the Mississippi River. That was her passion! They also had traveled throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East. She was a classy, fun-loving person who will be remembered for her smile and her contagious laugh. She was a good friend to many! Survivors include one son, Bob of Grinnell; three sisters, Celeste Oberle of Denver, Colorado, Dolores Moothart of Waterloo and Delphine Marlow of Arlington, Virginia and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack in 2010; her daughter, Mary Beth Penne; one brother, Norbert Meisch and one sister, Thomasine Furnia.