Mr. Rathke was a retired pipefitter and a more than 50-year member of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 101. He was a retired trustee of the Local 101 Health & Welfare Program, a past president of the Southwestern Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council, their 2001 Volunteer of the Year, and their 2006 Labor Man of the Year.
Skip was a past officer for the Catholic Holy Family Society Council 21, a past president and financial secretary of the Catholic Knights & Ladies of Illinois Athletic Association, the bingo group program manager for the C. K. & L. of I. Country Club, and the renovation coordinator for the Labor & Industry Museum. He also served 14 years as a youth baseball manager and coach with Belleville Parks & Recreation. He enjoyed calling bingo, old radio and television programs, and listening to music from the ‘40’s through the ‘70’s. But, most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Skip was preceded in death by his father, Louis Rathke; his mother, Helen, nee Roux, Whitten Rathke; and a brother, Norm Whitten.
Surviving are his beloved wife, the woman of his dreams, JoAnn, nee Wuebbels, Varel Rathke;
two daughters and three sons, Linda Rathke of Marietta, GA,
Tim Rathke of Belleville, IL,
Becky Wolf of Freeburg, IL,
Dan (Cassie) Varel of Nashville, IL,
and Steve (Kim) Rathke of Belleville, IL;
and nine grandchildren, Abby, Mollie, and Maggie Wolf,
Delaney, Reese, and Grady Varel,
and Patrick, Lauren, and Olivia Rathke.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Interfaith Food Pantry. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, January 8, 2015, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 9, 2015, at the funeral home with Msgr. Jack McEvilly officiating. Burial will follow at Walnut Hill Cemetery, Belleville, IL.
Condolences Left For Leonard Rathke
Dear Uncle you will be missed, I will miss your e-mail jokes, I always knew you were O.K. as long as I was getting a joke from you.Our game of “You’re It” is over now 🙁
Sue Shands, Belleville, IL, 62226
My sympathy to the Rathke family. Skip was a nice caring man. So sorry to hear!
Love,
Kathy
(Joann’s cousin)
Kathy Arnold, Fairfield, Ca, 94534
Joann, I am so sorry about Skip. God Bless You and the kids.
Carolyn Deiters Deweese, Dacula, Ga., 30019
Sorry to hear of Skip’s passing. Enjoyed working with him around the Belleville area on different jobs, and as a delegate to the Southwestern Illinois Building Trades. He was a good person.
Michael Melvin, O’fallon, Illinois, 62269
Dan, Cassie, Delany, Reese and Grady
Find strength and comfort in family, friends and your memories.
Tom
Tom Hudgins, Pinckneyville, IL, 62274
My deepest Sympathy to the entire family. I knew Skip thought the Union Labor Community. He was one of the most caring people that I have ever met. He will be missed by many. May God and the wonderful memories of Skip help all of you through the difficult times ahead.
Terry Knoth, Swansea , IL, 62226