Marilyn Rathke, 90, of Columbus, died Saturday, December 21, 2024, at the Columbus Community Hospital.
In lieu of flowers and plants the family requests memorials for future designation
Please make checks payable to Kevin Rathke
Memorial Service Saturday, January 18, 2025, 11:00 A.M.
Peace Lutheran Church, Columbus Rev. Cory Burma, Officiating
Visitation 10-11:00 A.M. at the church
Lunch in the church fellowship hall immediately following the service
Committal at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Wisner at 2:00P.M., led by Pastor Greg Rathke
Marilyn Rose Meyer Rathke was born December 10, 1934 on the family farm NW of Hooper, Nebraska to George L. and Marie Andreson Meyer. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Hooper, NE. She attended a one room country school, District #16, Hooper, NE and graduated from Scribner High School in 1952. Marilyn’s parents moved to Scribner after her brother, Delbert, married and lived on the home place. She enjoyed town life and all it had to offer. Most of all she enjoyed going roller skating. It was at the West Point roller rink that she met her future husband, Leon Rathke. She liked his unique sense of humor. They had similar backgrounds and were married on a stormy March 1st, 1953. Leon was drafted into the service and had to report one month after their marriage to basic training. After his training ended, Leon was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He found a nice place in Alexandria, Virginia for Marilyn to come and live with him. Four months later, his orders were to go to Korea. Marilyn would have to move back to Scribner to live with her parents and wait for the baby that was on the way. In April 1955, after two years of being in the Army, Leon was honorably discharged. The family farm, south of Wisner, was waiting for both of them. They put down roots there where they would thrive. Marilyn established new personal relationships with neighbors, friends, and family. An important part of their lives was belonging to St. John’s and later Zion St John’s Lutheran Church and their schools. Marilyn belonged to the Ladies Aid and many other activities associated with the church and school. Belonging to the Extension Club was another activity that Marilyn enjoyed. She was eager to learn new recipes and loved the fellowships with the caring wonderful ladies. Her life was built around her family which included but was not exclusive to the children’s activities and helping on the farm. She felt she had the greatest of all lives. She also worked five years as a Nursing Assistant and Physical Therapy Aide at Wisner Care Center. In 1986, The unthinkable happened when Leon and Marilyn’s 28 year old son, Daniel, died from a tractor and semi-truck accident at Page NE. He left behind his wife Cherie, 6 year old son Eric and 2 year old daughter Samantha. The declining farm economy forced Leon and Marilyn to leave the farm that they loved and to start a new life. They relocated to Columbus NE where Marilyn worked as a Nursing Assistant at the Columbus Community Hospital and also worked as a Medical Coordinator for Region IV Services. She reported that this was the job she was most passionate about. Marilyn and Leon also participated in church activities at Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus NE. Marilyn belonged to LWML and the Stephen Ministry.
Marilyn is survived by her sister, Gorgean (Meyer) Havekost, son, Lynden (Patti) and their daughter, Megan, son, Kevin and his sons, Walker and Chance, daughter, Kimberly Carson (Mark) and their children, Rachel (Andrew Nelson) and Elias, son, Jim (Valerie) and their children, Pam Snodgrass and Nolan, Daniel's children, Eric Heilig and Samantha (Heilig) Mikkelson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Rathke, son, Daniel Rathke, grandson, Jonathan Carson, parents, George L and Marie Meyer, and brothers, Lynes, Louis, Donald, Delbert, and Robert Meyer.
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