NEW HAMPTON - Shirley Rabe, 82, New Hampton, died Sunday, June 17, 2001 at North Iowa Mercy Health Center in Mason City of natural causes.

Funeral services were 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hampton with Rev. Kevin Frey and Rev. David Bergstrom officiating. Lowell Granneman read the 23rd Psalm. Dennis Strum was organist, accompanying those in attendance singing "How Great Thou Art", "Wnat a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "Just a Closer Walk With Thee". Johanna Donovan was cross bearer.

Burial was in the New Hampton Cemetery with Bill Zwanziger, Corey Pester, Brett Pester, Melbert Holzer, Ralph Beck, Nathan Rabe, Randy Schmitt and Richard Schoonover serving as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers were Johanna Donovan, Aubre Rabe, Kerri Tuschel, Paula Elenz, Michael Donohue, Steven Donohue and Garry Schmitt^

Visitation was from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 20 at Conway Funeral Home in New Hampton, and also an hour prior to services at the church. The casket was closed as Shirley wished.

Shirley Dorothy Rabe was born Sept. 3, 1918 at Fredericksburg, the daughter of Guy and Amelia (Niewoehner) Schoonover. She was baptized on Sept. 26, 1926 and confirmed on Nov. 29, 1936 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. Shirley graduated from Fredericksburg High School in 1936. After graduation, she taught Sunday School at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. On April 13, 1941, she was united in marriage with Henry Rabe at Friedens Evangelical Church in Fredericksburg. The couple has resided on a rarm three miles south of New Hampton since their marriage. She enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

•Surviving are her husband, Henry, New Hampton; three sons, Richard Rabe, Forest Lake, MN, Dennis (Sharon) Rabe, Alstead, NH, David (Terri) Rabe, New Hampton; two daughters, Sheila Pester and Linda (Larry) Schmitt, New Hampton; 11 grandchildren; six great-grand-cnildren; five sisters, Beth Edgar, Burnita (LaVerne) Lienau and Donna Schoonover, all of Fredericksburg, Margaret Mueller, Sumner, Beverly (Jack) Perry, Hudson; one sister-in-law, Phyllis Schoonover, Fredericksburg.

Preceding her in death were her parents; one son, Kurt in 1967; one grandson, Scott Rabe in 1969; one great-grandson, Jeremy Elenz in 1994; one brother, Wilbur Schoonover in 1999.

Source: New Hampton Tribune; June 22, 2001 Page 4
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the Web by Bill Waters