William A. “Willie” Rathke (96) of Olpe died Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at the Holiday Resort Care Center.
William Albert Rathke the son of John and Olga Mockry Rathke was born June 25, 1921 in Olpe. He married Mildred “Millie” Schwartz on August 17, 1956 in Cottonwood Falls. She preceded him in death on February 20, 2017.
Willie was a farmer in the Olpe area and worked for USD 252 as a bus driver and custodian. He was an Army veteran of WWII and a member of the Olpe American Legion, Emporia V.F.W. and the Olpe Knights of Columbus.
He is survived by two daughters, Betty Watts of Salt Lake City, Utah and Patricia Hartford of Fort Scott; grandchildren, Julie Cooper, Cole Watts, Wade Watts, Willie Hartford, Jimmy Hartford and Bethany Hartford; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by five brothers, Ernest, Benjamin "Bud", Carl “Dugan”, Louis and George; three sisters Josie Helen, Olga Vahsholtz, and Irene Beebout, a sibling that died in infancy; and three nephews Charlie Dean Helen, Gary Vahsholtz, and Leon Rathke.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.m. on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at Roberts-Blue-Barnett. The family will meet with friends from 7:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Monday, February 12, 2018 at the funeral home. Services will be conducted by Pastor Lucille Barb of the Olpe United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery west of Olpe. Graveside military honors will be by Ball-McColm post #5, American Legion and Lowry-Funston Post #1980, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Memorial donations to the Olpe Fire Department may be sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett, 605 State St, Emporia, KS 66801.
Friends may leave online condolences for the family at www.robertsblue.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Willie A. Rathke, please visit our flower store.
William Albert Rathke the son of John and Olga Mockry Rathke was born June 25, 1921 in Olpe. He married Mildred “Millie” Schwartz on August 17, 1956 in Cottonwood Falls. She preceded him in death on February 20, 2017.
Willie was a farmer in the Olpe area and worked for USD 252 as a bus driver and custodian. He was an Army veteran of WWII and a member of the Olpe American Legion, Emporia V.F.W. and the Olpe Knights of Columbus.
He is survived by two daughters, Betty Watts of Salt Lake City, Utah and Patricia Hartford of Fort Scott; grandchildren, Julie Cooper, Cole Watts, Wade Watts, Willie Hartford, Jimmy Hartford and Bethany Hartford; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by five brothers, Ernest, Benjamin "Bud", Carl “Dugan”, Louis and George; three sisters Josie Helen, Olga Vahsholtz, and Irene Beebout, a sibling that died in infancy; and three nephews Charlie Dean Helen, Gary Vahsholtz, and Leon Rathke.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.m. on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at Roberts-Blue-Barnett. The family will meet with friends from 7:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Monday, February 12, 2018 at the funeral home. Services will be conducted by Pastor Lucille Barb of the Olpe United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery west of Olpe. Graveside military honors will be by Ball-McColm post #5, American Legion and Lowry-Funston Post #1980, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Memorial donations to the Olpe Fire Department may be sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett, 605 State St, Emporia, KS 66801.
Friends may leave online condolences for the family at www.robertsblue.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Willie A. Rathke, please visit our flower store.
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