Irene J. Rowland

MOLINE - Irene J. Rowland, 81, of Moline, passed away at 11:25 a.m., Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Unity Point Health Rock Island.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 9 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Rev. Zackary Glenn will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 8 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Memory Gardens in rural Kewanee. Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association, Jump Rope for Heart.

She was born November 15, 1935 in Lacon, IL, the daughter of Merlin and Wilma (Walker) Curtis. She married Frederick “Fred” Rowland on February 22, 1952 in Kewanee and he preceded her in death on August 9, 2003. Survivors include her five children, Jackie (John) Bodine of East Moline, Leesha Rowland (her boyfriend, Doug Gipe) of Milan, Sabra Rowland of Silvis, IL, Brian (Julie) Rowland of Albany, IL and Aaron Rowland of Moline, twelve grandchildren, Amber, Scott (his girlfriend, Amanda), Ariel, Parris, Yorka, Mariah, Ashley, Dustin, Eric, Cathy, Cory and Alex, fifteen great grandchildren, Nathan, Madison, Austin, Devin, Lyric, Liam, Cohen, Jack, Libertee, Jerzee, Mysteree, Grant, Laure, Klara and Jaxson and a great-great granddaughter, Lily. She was also preceded in death by her parents, a son, Frederick Jr., a daughter, Fredericka West, two sisters, Verna Brooks and Myrna Simmons and a brother, Theodore Curtis.

Irene in her early years had worked as a waitress at Deck Restaurant and at Norms Restaurant in California. She primarily worked in the cafeteria at Millikin Elementary School. She attended Heritage Church and was a member of the Red Hat Society. Her favorites times of the year were Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and she enjoyed shopping and baking. She also enjoyed being around kids, spending time with her grandchildren and going out to eat with her family.

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