Rita Kaye (Perrine) Kuenstler

Rita Kaye Perrine Kuenstler died April 20, 2026 at her home in Santa Rosa Beach, FL.

Rita was born June 7, 1949, in Oblong, IL, to Howard Dorsey Perrine and Hazel (Baker) Perrine. She married William (Bill) Kuenstler on June 19, 1971, at Holy Cross Church in Wendelin, IL.

Rita is survived by her husband, Bill; her daughter, Jacqueline; sisters, Karen (Kip) Davis and Nancy (Randy) Sparks; and brother, Kent (Laura) Perrine; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and by her brother, Ronald Perrine and Ron’s wife, Bobbie.

Rita attended Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL, and graduated with a B.S. in Education (with a botany/biology emphasis) in 1971. She earned an M.S. in Science Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1974.

It is often said that marriage is a partnership, and Rita was a true partner to Bill throughout their almost 55 years of marriage. She supported him by having many careers throughout those years, finding different jobs at all the locations to which Bill was assigned in his career with USDA - Soil Conservation Service (which became the Natural Resources Conservation Service). She attended graduate school while Bill was in Decatur, IL and Eureka, IL; in Jackson, KY, she worked and taught at Lees College; in Macomb, IL, she sold real estate; in Gainesville, FL, she worked at a florist shop, then ran her own business of leasing and maintaining indoor plants for restaurants and other businesses; in Wilmington, DE, she had the most important role of her life, becoming a mother when Jackie was born; in Fort Collins, CO, she worked at a plant nursery; and in Arlington, TX, she worked at a plant nursery, and also volunteered untold hours at Jackie’s schools. Rita never complained about all those moves. She was always willing to move to a new town, sometimes halfway across the country, and happily adapt to a new place, and a new set of friends.

Rita’s creative and welcoming spirit always shined through, especially as Jackie was growing up. During her time volunteering with activities like Odyssey of the Mind and Destination Imagination, she helped make their home in Arlington, TX into a creative haven for all the kids. Their garage became an endless source of craft supplies, tools, and interesting items that Jackie and her friends would use in countless projects, skits, and experiments. Rita took immense pride in fostering a space where Jackie and her friends could grow up, be curious, learn, and be supported and welcomed. She volunteered for years at Jackie’s different schools, from elementary activities, to the high school marching band and colorguard, and maintained friendships with the other parents and students long after Jackie graduated and left for college.

Rita’s final home was in Florida, close to the beaches that she loved. Her dream of having a house at the beach began in 1985, when Bill and Rita lived in Gainesville, FL, and visited the beaches on the east coast of Florida. After moving to Texas in 1997, they started taking vacations to the white, sandy beaches in the Florida Panhandle. Even though retirement was many years away, she knew that this was where she wanted to retire. After several visits to different locations between Destin and Panama City, she finally found the perfect spot in Santa Rosa Beach. She enjoyed walking the beaches and learning about the new plants around her new home.

Those of you who knew her, knew she was passionate about her progressive political views. In her memory, we know she would want everyone to support those people and candidates in their communities who are championing human rights and human dignity.

Rita wanted to be cremated, and did not want any services. Bill and Jackie plan to take time over the next few months to travel and visit family, friends, and the places that were important in Rita’s life, to share as many memories as they can.