Cynthia Pilkington

Cynthia Pilkington, 56, of Lincoln, Neb., died Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013, at Tabatha Hospice Home in Lincoln, Neb.

A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today, Nov. 8, at the funeral home. Cynthia will be laid to rest at the Zoar Cemetery in rural Jasper County. Memorials may be directed to the family to be designated at a later date. For condolences or questions, visit www.mitchellfh.com.

Cynthia Lyanne Rethmeier was born on May 4, 1957, in Tacoma, Wash. She was the daughter of Vern and Dorma (Ingalls) Rethmeier. Cynthia attended school in Marshalltown Community School District graduating with the class of 1975, but technically early in 1974, as she was always the overachiever. Cynthia attended Iowa State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in 1979, and specialist’s degree in 1981. Cynthia later achieved her doctorate in psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1988. Cynthia married Kevin Pilkington of Marshalltown in 1976, and was later divorced. Cynthia worked as a child psychologist and touched many lives during her career. She loved to read, travel, and spending time with her precious granddaughter, Peyton.

Left to cherish her memory is her son, Ryan Pilkington (fiancé Kelli Rost) of Lincoln, Neb.; granddaughter, Peyton Pilkington; siblings, Michelle (John) Herman of Paola, Kan., and Dan Rethmeier of Eldora; and many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

In death she rejoins her parents, Verne and Dorma; and brothers Kenneth and Douglas.