Patricia Marie Rourke

Charlotte - Patricia Rourke (nee Hallberg), 91, passed away on July 17, 2022. She was born on March 31, 1931 in Galesburg, Illinois. Beloved soul-mate of the late Col. Rodger E. Rourke and mother of Michael and Jeff, daughter of the late I. Russel and Maybelle Hallberg (nee Tinberg).

Pat moved with her family to Chicago when she was 11. She received an associate degree in nursing from Augustana Hospital and married Rodger, a classmate at Calumet HS, in 1952. While he was serving in Korea as a Marine, Pat began her nursing career in San Diego. Michael was born there, at Camp Pendleton, in 1956. During 23 years as a Marine wife, Pat moved frequently, including stops at Camp Lejeune, Maryland, and the D.C. area. Jeff was born in St. Joseph, MO in 1966 while Rodger served in Vietnam.

There followed a 3-year posting on Okinawa, where she served as the chair of the Marine Corp liaison with the Red Cross. Okinawa is where Pat discovered Ikebana Japanese flower arranging, a passion for the rest of her life. She began study there in 1967 and, in 2014, reached the level of Second Term Master in the Ohara school of Ikebana. She was a member and former president of local chapter #49 here in Charlotte. She taught students for over 20 years, many of whom became close friends.

The family took advantage of Okinawa’s central location to travel around the Far East. Pat and Rodger also travelled extensively in retirement, and Pat continued to do so with friends after Rodger’s passing in 2000. She was very close to a few caregivers who helped her in later years. Pat was also an avid supporter of classical music and the opera. She also had dogs all her adult life, with a particular fondness for Schnauzers.

She is survived by her son, Michael D. Rourke and daughter-in-law, Barbara Reeder of Skokie, IL; son, Jeffery A. Rourke, of Charlotte, NC; and granddaughters, Shannon Patricia Rourke of Chicago, IL and Erin Stephanie Rourke, of American Fork, UT.

She is also survived by sisters and brothers-in-law, Myrna Beth and Louis Hund, of Fort Worth, TX, and Pamela and Dr. David Western of Overland Park, KS, and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Reverend Mr. Walter G. and Catherine Rourke, of Charlotte Hall, MD.

The service to honor and celebrate her life will be held at 2 pm on Thursday, July 21, 2022 in the chapel of McEwen Funeral Home, 10500 Park Rd., Charlotte. The family will receive friends from 1:00-1:45 pm prior to the service. Burial will take place in Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

Ikebana International Chapter #49 Please email: [email protected]

Best Friends Animal Society https://bestfriends.org/donate/memory

WDAV Classical Music https://www.wdav.org/contribute