Rita Jackson (1936 – 2007)

Rita Louise Jackson, age 71, a resident of Racine, died Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at Wheaton Franciscan All Saints St. Mary?s Medical Center Campus.?

She was born on September 4, 1936 to Joseph and Jean (Strong) Mach in Antigo, WI.

Rita graduated from Antigo High School in 1954.? She graduated from Gateway Technical College in 1986, earning an Associates Degree in Social Services and later attended Carthage College.

Rita married Edwin J. Clark on June 16, 1954 at St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Pickerel, WI, they later divorced and he preceded her in death on January 27, 2002. In 1973 she married Ervie Jackson who preceded her in death on January 11, 1977.

Rita was employed as a waitress at many restaurants.? She was a CNA for Society?s Assets and worked with Senior Aids at Racine Park and Recreation.? For many years she volunteered delivering baked goods for shut-ins and also for her friends at Albert House.

Rita was a very generous and giving person.

She is survived by six sons, Edwin Clark of Brookfield, Ron (Barb) Clark of Kenosha, Michael Clark of Racine, Allen (Susan) Clark of California, Joseph (Sheri) Clark of Pleasant Prairie, and SFC David (KimMarie) Clark of Pennsylvania; two daughters, Anna(Samuel) Bort of Racine, and Debbie (Dan) Witman of Pickerel WI; twenty-nine grand children; thirteen great-grandchildren; two brothers, Donald (Rita) Mach of Arizona, and Richard (Pat) Mach of Racine; and a sister Sally (Wally) Hamm of Neenah WI.

She is preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, one great-grandson Bradley, four brothers Gerald, Lyle, Joseph, and David, and a sister Jeannie Mach.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 11:30amat St. Lucy Catholic Church in Racine. (3101-Drexel Avenue) Visitation will be held Saturday at the church from 9:30am until the time of mass. Burial will take place atSt. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Pickerel, WI on Sunday, October 21, 2007 at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to The Women?s Resource Center. (P.O. Box 1764 Racine, WI? 53401).

The family would like to thank the entire ICU staff of St. Mary?s Hospital, with special mention to Dawn, Gary and Vicki for their loving care and support of their mother and grandmother.