Memorial
Rita Ann (Bohan) Cours, age 94, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2023 in Robins, Iowa, surrounded by her daughters. Services: 11:00 am, Saturday, February 11, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories where family will greet friends from 9 to 11 am. Burial will immediately follow the service at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Rita was born on Valentine’s Day in 1928 to Tim and Sadie Bohan who farmed near Shell Rock, IA. Her parents valued education, especially for girls, and sent Rita and her sister to live with aunts in Waterloo for secondary education. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School at age 17 then worked for a year as a secretary before entering nursing school. She graduated from Mercy School of Nursing in Cedar Rapids in 1949 with a degree in nursing. Rita worked in nursing at various locations in Cedar Rapids, Denver, Houston and New York. She married Tom Cours on July 12, 1952 and they were happily married for 45 years. They lived in Buffalo, New York, for a time, then moved to Cedar Rapids in 1954. Rita was a loving housewife and mother and sometimes worked part-time at Cours Radio & TV in Cedar Rapids. Rita enjoyed reading, watching tv, playing cards, dining out and visiting with friends and family, and especially spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had a contagious laugh. Always careful with the family budget, having grown up during the Depression, Rita was a maven at shopping and was known for returning items that weren’t exactly right. She was a long-time member of St Pius X Church in Cedar Rapids.
Rita is survived by daughters Betty Damisch (Rick) of Robins, IA and Debi Cours (Shawn Skeries) of Granada Hills, CA, grandchildren Andrew Damisch, Toby Damisch (Marcie), Mike Damisch, Jeff Damisch (Jess Shedd), Morgan Skeries and Keara Skeries, two great-grandchildren, Will Damisch and Evie Damisch, sister Marie Schmitz, brother Tom (Jackie) Bohan, sister-in-law Betty Bohan, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Tom, infant son Kenneth, her parents, her brothers Jerry and John, her brother-in-law, Loren Schmitz, and her sisters-in-law, Betty Thayer and Barbara Hensley.
The family is grateful to the loving and dedicated care Rita received at Emery Place and in her final days from Hospice of Mercy. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Rita’s memory may be directed to the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation, the March of Dimes, or any charity of the donor’s choice.