With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of Rhonda Jean Mash of Park Hills, Missouri. She passed away the morning of May 22, 2026, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, at 5:05 a.m., with her daughters by her side.
Rhonda was born on January 22, 1957, in Steelville, Missouri.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Mash, and her mother, Bonnie Plank.
She is survived by her father, Thomas Plank; her two daughters, Blake Streckfuss and her husband Matt, and Jordan Roark and her husband Jared; her three grandchildren, Jessa, Julia, and Jaxson, who all knew her as their “Grammy”. She also leaves behind her two sisters, Judy Hale and husband Rick, and Lisa Plank, along with special nieces Melanie Davis, Kristin (Billy) Ham, and Megan Plank, and nephew Brett Hulsey. She is also survived by her great-nieces and nephews, as well as many other family members and friends who loved her.
Rhonda knew the price of everything and the worth of a good life, and she never confused the two. She loved coupons and got a real kick out of beating full price, and she knew which store, which day, and which sale to wait for. However, she was never cheap, and anyone who knew her could tell you the difference. She saved hard where she could, so she was able to spend freely on what was most important. She always drove a Cadillac, dressed up for all occasions, and took at least two vacations every single year.
She was wired that way from the start. When it came time for college, Rhonda chose the School of the Ozarks on purpose, because students there worked to pay their own tuition rather than borrowing for it. That was her at eighteen, already certain that a dollar earned was worth more than a dollar handed over.
She brought that same grit to her life's work. She earned a Master's degree in social work and gave 36 years to the Missouri Children's Division, looking after kids and families when they had nowhere else to turn. She took real pride in that work.
Cancer was the only thing that ever made her slow down. She beat it once and went right back to her life. When it returned nine years later, she faced it again with everything she had.
Rhonda lived for the sun. She had taken 47 trips (mostly to Cancun) to the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Mexico. She and her husband created their own tropical oasis in their backyard so even when she wasn’t at the beach she could enjoy paradise year-round at her home.
She always had a love for everything tropical, from seashells, palm trees, pineapples, and sailboats. Flamingos were by far her favorite; she had them everywhere inside and out of her house, she wore them as jewelry, and no matter what it was, she had to have it if there was a flamingo on it.
Rhonda inherited a great love for antiques from her mother. She loved hunting down and collecting colorful vintage glassware, especially Capodimonte and tea sets. She also loved fine oil paintings, anything Art Deco, and antique wall clocks.
She was a member of the Eagles and proud of where she came from.
Rhonda built a life full of hard work, beauty, laughter, and sunshine. She loved deeply, gave generously, and enjoyed life fully. Her family will carry her memory with them in every beach sunset, every flamingo, every bargain worth bragging about, and every moment spent together. She will be deeply missed and forever loved. May she finally rest somewhere warm, peaceful, and filled with sunshine.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 27, 2026 with family at 4:30 and friends from 5:00 to 8:00. Her funeral will be on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 1:00, with Rev. Dwight Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are with Horton-Wampler Funeral Home in Park Hills.