A redstone piston positioned to push up will not retract when the block pushed is a redstone block. If the redstone block, that is being pushed, is destroyed, the piston retracts.

When tested in a horizontal configuration, this works as expected. It also works when the piston is set to push down.

When tested with a stone block as the payload, the piston functions as expected and retracts when power is removed.

A small scale test is demonstrated in the attached photos.
Photo One: Piston is not powered in the original configuration
Photo Two: Power is applied. The piston extends and pushes the redstone block up.
Photo Three: Power is removed but the piston remains extended.