Surnames: Rabska, Myhre, Marking, Kitze, Emmerich, Powers, Compton

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) Saturday, July 12, 2008

Rabska, Dorothy Grace (1 April 1923 - 11 July 2008)

Dorothy G. Rabska

WITHEE -- Dorothy G. Rabska of Withee, 85, died Friday, July 11, 2008, at the Clark County Health Care Center in Owen.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 14, 2008, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Withee. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in the town of Hixon.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Owen and from 10 a.m. until service time Monday at the church in Withee.

A complete obituary for Dorothy will run in the Monday's Marshfield News-Herald.

* * *

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) Monday, July 14, 2008

Dorothy Rabska

Dorothy Grace Rabska, 85, of Withee passed away on Friday, July 11, 2008, at the Clark County Health Care Center in Owen.

Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 14, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Withee. The Rev. Thomas Myhre will officiate. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in the town of Hixon with military rites conducted by the Van Huizen-Fritz American Legion Post No. 123 and the Lublin American Legion Post No. 547.

Visitation was from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 13, at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Owen and from 10 a.m. until time of service Monday at the church in Withee.

Dorothy was born April 1, 1923, to John and Martha Marking in Owen. She is survived by her beloved husband of 61 years, Herman Rabska; daughter, Molly (Emmerich), and son-in-law, Ronald, of Hazelhurst; daughter, Karen (Kitze), and son-in-law, Michael, of Rhinelander; son, Gregory Rabska, and daughter- in- law, Candace, of Withee; and son, Michael Rabska of Plover. She will be dearly missed by her seven grandchildren, Cody and his fiance, Debbie; Kevin and his wife, Lisa; Megan and her husband, Matt Ward; Erica, Kristi, Cole, David and Brooklyn.

She leaves behind two sisters, Theresa Powers of Prairie du Chien, and Margaret Compton of Chicago, Illinois.

After graduation from Owen High School, Dorothy worked in Milwaukee at Allis Chalmers - a true "Rosie the Riveter". She then enlisted in the Women's Army Corp in the medical department where she tended wounded soldiers for two years because, as she said, "I had a deep seated feeling of serving my country."

After the war she met Herman at Jackson's dance club when her sisters introduced them. Hermie and Dot were married on August 30, 1947, and were able to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary together surrounded by their loving family.

Dottie was a devoted wife, loving mother, trusted friend and tireless volunteer in the Village of Withee. She managed the books for the Rabska Fuel Co., served as a member and president of St. John's Lutheran Women's Missionary League and the Ladies Aid. She was a proud member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Always actively involved in her community, she served as the chairperson for the Clark County Department of Aging organizing transport for the elderly. She and Herman were named "Citizens of the Year" by the Village of Withee for their contributions to the community.

Dottie loved music, whether singing with her sister, playing the piano "by ear" or serving as organist for weddings and funerals in the Withee area. Her piano and her music were at the center of her life. She was even able to play a few tunes for the folks at the Colonial Nursing Home in Colby where she was a resident for a short time.

Always proud of her Norwegian heritage, she was a wonderful lefse maker and treated her family to lutefisk, fattigman and sandbakkels at Christmas. Although not fluent, she and her sister Theresa would often converse in a bit of "Norsk."

She enjoyed camping with Hermie and their friends at Lake Holcombe, O'Neil Creek and other places, and she was a faithful fishing partner for Herm. She loved parties and celebrations, especially the Annual Kitze Bass Tourney where she would often entertain folks with her costumes and songs. An avid reader and lover of language, she could quote poetry and the Bible from heart.

Dorothy will be sorely missed by her loving family and friends who will always remember her feisty spirit, her joy of living and her abiding and deep faith. She was as she was fond of reminding us "a gift of God."