Rita A. Achterberg, 26 Jan 1942 - 31 Jul 2015

ACHTERBERG, VAN STEENHUYSE, SIMMONS, BOWER, CREW, FRAZIER

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 10/6/2015 at 13:34:41

RITA VAN STEENHUYSE ACHTERBERG

Williamsburg

Rita Van Steenhuyse Achterberg: Memorial service at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Williamsburg. Inurnment at St. Mary's Cemetery, Williamsburg. Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Rita and her family.

Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.

The Gazette,Posted on Wednesday, 7 October 2015, 10a

Williamsburg — Rita Van Steenhuyse Achterberg, 73, died of natural causes on Friday, July 31, 2015 at her home in Williamsburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 9, 2015 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Williamsburg with Rev. Joseph F. Roost as celebrant followed by inurnment in the Van Steenhuyse family plot at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Williamsburg.

Rita Ann Van Steenhuyse was born January 26, 1942 in Van Horne; the youngest of six children of Walter and Louise (Simmons) Van Steenhuyse. Rita grew up in Williamsburg and graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1960. She attended Iowa State University before marrying Donald Achterberg in 1963. They moved to the Los Angeles area in 1965 where they raised their three children Michael, Alan and Ann Marie. Rita excelled as a full-time mother to her children and was ever-present in their lives. Over the years she was active in numerous volunteer positions for her parish and community. In 1982 she began a successful 20-year career as a residential real estate agent in Palos Verdes, CA. Don and Rita divorced in 2001 after 38 years of marriage.

Rita then married Ed Bower and they moved back to Williamsburg in 2004 just two houses from where she grew up. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Rita obtained her Iowa real estate broker's license, and later enjoyed working part-time at Von Essen Galerie on the Town Square.

Rita is survived by Ed, Don, her three children; Michael (Patrice) Achterberg of Rolling Hills Estates CA, Alan Achterberg of Irvine CA, and Ann Marie (Darin) Crew of Lisle IL; four grandchildren, Dean Achterberg, Chatelaine (Chet) Achterberg, Ian Crew and Sophia Crew; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Ray, Gerald, Leo and Earl and sister, Mary Frazier.

Rita always lovingly put everyone else first. She never wanted to complain or steal the spotlight. Rita had many close friends and was well loved by all in her communities through the years.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home, Vinton, is caring for Rita and her family. Condolences may be left at their web site www.vsrfh.com .

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home
Journal Tribune, 12 Aug 2015, pg 5
The Gazette, 05 Aug 2015