Marquette––Richard A. Rabe, 86, of 1804 Kimber Avenue, Marquette, passed away on Saturday, April 21, 2007 at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans, where he had been living for one month.
Richard was born June 29, 1920 in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Springfield, Illinois. His parents taught him to sail as a boy and it was something he enjoyed all his life. He was a member and officer of yacht clubs in Illinois and New York. He attended the University of Illinois and spent his entire career working for General Motors as a senior engineer for Manufacturing Development in Warren, Michigan, and for Chevrolet in Massena and Tonawanda, New York. He returned to the engineering staff at the GM Technical Center and retired from there. Dick served in the US Army during World War II, training for chemical warfare at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland. He then served at Fort Taylor, Key West, Florida, and later was sent to a replacement depot in New Guinea. He was honorably discharged in 1945 with the rank of sergeant.
Dick is survived by his wife, Esther; son, Richard (Peggy) Rabe of Middleton, ID; daughters, Jean (Richard) Kramer of Kalispell, MT, and Ellen Rabe of Marquette; seven grandchildren, Erik and Alison Rabe, Cody and Cayla Kramer, Woodrow and Oakley Bright, and Wil Caverly; a great grandchild, Emmerson Clair Rabe; and a sister, Jeane Kuchenbecker of Mercer, WI.
Honoring Dick’s request, he will be cremated and no services will be scheduled.