Sister Margaret Rourke — Dec. 23, 1927 – June 1, 2018

Sister Margaret Rourke died June 1, 2018 at Mount Joseph Senior Village in Concordia, Kan. She was 90 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph for 71 years.

She was born on Dec. 23, 1927,  in Brownell, Kan., to John Joseph and Margaret Anne Halbleib Rourke, the sixth of eight children, and was baptized Margaret Louise. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia on Sept. 11, 1946. On March 18, 1947, Margaret received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Thomasine, later returning to her baptismal name Margaret. She pronounced first vows on March 19, 1948, and final vows on March 19, 1951.

Sister Margaret received a B.A. in science and math from Marymount College in 1959. In 1968 she received an M.A. from the University of Montevallo, Ala., in science and math. Sister Margaret taught in Tipton, Leoville, Cawker City, Salina, Beloit, Concordia, Manhattan and Clyde, Kansas. Once she retired from teaching, she did pastoral ministry in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Overland Park and Salina in Kansas. In 2008 she took on the work of Coordinator of Mission Affairs for the community. She held this position until her retirement. In 2012 she moved to the Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia; later moving to Mt. Joseph Senior Village in 2015.

Sister Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters and three brothers. She is survived by one sister, Eileen Nemechek, of Goodland, Kan. A Bible Vigil Service will be held 9:30 a.m. June 11, 2018, in the Nazareth Motherhouse Chapel with Sister Marilyn Wall as the eulogist. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. June 11, 2018, in the Motherhouse Chapel with Father Jim Hoover presiding.

The internment of cremains will be in the Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery. Nutter Mortuary, 116 E. Sixth St., Concordia, is in charge of arrangements. Memorials for Sister Margaret Rourke may be given to the Sisters of St. Joseph Health Care/ Retirement Fund or the Apostolic Works of the Sisters; P.O Box 279, Concordia, 66901.

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