Obit: Rabska, Richard #2 (1865 - 1952)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Rabska, Henley, Brandt

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 03/06/1952

Rabska, Richard #2 (9 JAN 1865 - 25 FEB 1952)

Richard Rabska Sr. was place in his final resting place in the family lot at Riverside Cemetery on Thursday, Feb. 28, 1952.  Funeral services were conducted at two o’clock from St. John’s Lutheran Church, Withee.  Rev. Walter Schedler officiated.  Pallbearers were Harry and George Baehr, Ray Missling, Gust Braun, Reinhold Buss and Adolph Cizek.

The deceased passed away early Monday morning at Victory Memorial Hospital, Stanley, where he had been a patient since Friday noon of the previous week, being taken there after having suffered a stroke at the home of Mrs. Emma Berken, city.

Richard A. Rabska was born in Saxton, Germany, on Jan. 9, 1865.  He was baptized in infancy and later confirmed.  He came to this country at the age of 14 years, making his home with his cousin at Shawano, Wis.

In the year 1890 he was married to Augusta Brandt.  This marriage was blessed with five children, four sons and one daughter.  His wife and two sons preceded him in death.

The family moved to Withee (Clark Co.), Wis. in the year 1895, and settled on a farm one mile west of Withee.  About 18 years ago they moved to Owen, where he has been making his home.

He passed away at the age of 86 years, 1 months and 16 days.  He leaves to mourn three children, two sons, Richard, Jr., Withee and John of Santa Maria, Calif., and a daughter, Mrs. Freda Henley of Hollywood, Calif.  Also nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

His passing from this community leaves another vacancy that is hard to fill, that of the old timers who pioneered this community.  He was an employee for years of the John S. Owen Lumber Co., during the years that Owen was planting its roots and developing to its present day status.  Richard Rabska, "Dick" as he was known to everyone, led an active and accomplishing life.  He wasn’t one to be idle.  Even in the late years of his life he found satisfaction and happiness in work.  Up until a year ago he served the city as park commissioner and even in the heat of summer was strong and energetic enough to follow a lawn mower all around all of the city’s parks and baseball diamond.

Dick possessed a bright cheerful disposition that will be missed by his family as well as his wide circle of friends.

Relatives and friends from out of town here for the services were Mr. and Mrs. Dan Kernan and Mrs. Walter Johnson of Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Ted Malhorn, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Malhorn and Mrs. Charlie Radant, Shawano; Miss Bernice Wagner and Mr. and Mrs. Hilmer Hendrickson, Menomonie, Wis.