Obituary of Anthony A Rahe

Anthony "Tony" A. Rahe, 86, of Dyersville, Iowa died Monday, March 29, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center, Dyersville, Iowa. Friends may call from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa where a parish rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. Friends may continue to call after Noon on Wednesday, March 31. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Phil Kruse. Pallbearers are Don and Mark Rahe, Jim and Justin Schuetz, Mark Bottelson, Mike and Paul Cassidy, and David Walters. Honorary pallbearers are Ellen Ader, Sara Faidley, Laura and Megan Bottelson, Marie, Ann and Theresa Cassidy, giftbearers are Tony and Nicholas Walters, Jordan and Jack Rahe and Landon Martin, and the lectors are Aaron Schuetz and Sharon Cassidy. Tony was born on October 30, 1923, on the family farm near Dyersville, Iowa, the son of Anton and Rose (Drees) Rahe. He married Rosemary Hermsen on Feb. 3, 1948, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Farley, Iowa. Together they farmed east of Dyersville until retiring in 1990. He was a pioneer in adopting agriculture technology in his farming operation as a fourth generation farmer on their Century Farm. He was a Dodge Township Trustee, a Dubuque County Extension Board Member, and he served two terms on the St. Francis Xavier Lay Board. Tony was very active in helping the Dyersville Community Hospital and Beckman High School become realities through his fundraising and volunteer labor. He was active in his children's education as an assistant 4-H Leader and he was very supportive of their educational opportunities from grade school through college. Rosemary faithfully took care of Tony at home as their deepest desire was to remain independent together. They recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary. Survivors include his wife, Rosemary, six children: Carol (Jim) Schuetz of Plymouth, MN, Don (Jeanne) of Edina, MN, Elaine (Mark) Bottelson of West DesMoines, IA, Sharon (Michael) Cassidy of Maple Grove, MN, Mark (Gayle) of Littleton, CO, and Linda (David) Walters of Bayport, MN; 15 grandchildren and two great grandsons; five brothers-in-law: Alvin (Doris), Francis (Inez), Clarence (Theresa), and Dennis (Nancy) Hermsen and a sister-in-law, Betty Gassmann. He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers and their spouses: Gerald (Agnes), Gilbert (Florabelle), Leo (Marie), Leroy (Wilma) Rahe, 3 sisters and their spouses: Delores (Ambrose) Krapfl, Evelyn (Art) Pape, and Eileen (Elmer) Hermsen, and a brother-in-law, Jerry Hermsen. The family would like to express their gratitude to the people of Mercy Medical Center in Dyersville for their care and compassion. Memorials are preferred to Beckman High School or Mercy Medical Center, Dyersville.