Born March 5, 1926, Rita Theresa Sears was the third born of the five surviving children born to John F. and Mary J. Kazimour. Rita (Reet) was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mom, aunt, great aunt, great-great aunt and grandmother – and loved all of her family and friends.

She added zing to the ordinary where you'd least expect it. No matter her age, no matter the event, from playing spoons to picking strawberries, she could get silly, and make the ordinary fun. She also told the unfiltered truth. If you wanted to get a truthful opinion on a new outfit, on a life-changing choice, or which friends were your better ones, ask Reet!

Her fun loving nature made her a favorite hunting partner with her uncles and brother Bob (and she was also an excellent shot). Her eagle eye also made her an avid hunter of morel mushrooms.

She had the ability to make people laugh, and to make the mundane interesting (she reportedly made asparagus picking fun). She was always interested in the lives of those around her and could strike up a conversation with strangers and become lifelong friends. After graduating from St. Wenceslaus High School, she worked at Collins Radio and Iowa Mutual Insurance Company.

She and her sisters, Mary Katherine, Helen and Regina enjoyed cow pasture parties by Indian Creek with "the gang". During one particular outing, she was introduced to a quiet, shy guy everyone knew: Johnnie Sears. They were married on June 14, 1947 at St. Wenceslaus Church in Cedar Rapids. After starting her own family, she worked at the family business, Kazimour Farm and Orchard, with her parents, family and husband Johnnie.

Rita enjoyed playing pinochle, finding buys at garage sales with friends, going to polka dances around the Midwest and selling apples at the Cedar Rapids and Marion Farmers' Markets. She and Johnnie entered apples for judging at the Iowa State Fair, bringing home sweepstakes and first place awards. They also enjoyed traveling and family vacations that covered every part of the U.S.A. and Canada.

In later years, she cherished time spent with her three grandchildren, Sean, Eric and Bailey.

She passed away peacefully from natural causes on October 25, 2018 at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. She was preceded in death by her husband, John. Rita is survived by her daughter, Carol Ann Sears; son, Craig John Sears (Margaret); grandchildren, Sean, Eric and Bailey Sears; and siblings, Helen Secrist, Regina Pisarik (Paul) and Robert F. Kazimour (Janis).

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 29, with a rosary at 7:30 p.m. at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 2 ^nd Street S.E. Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 30. Celebrant: Fr. Christopher Podhajsky, St. Wenceslaus Church, 1224 5 ^th Street S.E.   Interment at Saint John's Cemetery, followed by a luncheon.