Charles "Chuck" Rathjen's Obituary
Montgomery, AL - Charles H. Chuck Rathjen, age 87, passed away Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at the home of his daughter in Montgomery, Alabama. He rejoins his beloved wife Elizabeth after having served her as sole caregiver for more than fifteen years during her struggle with Alzheimers. Elizabeth passed away in 2008. Charles had lived in Carbondale, IL and Big Rapids, MI. He was born June 6, 1922 in Brooklyn, NY and grew up in Queens. He attended Cornell University for two years, and he met Elizabeth Eason while in cadet training with the Army Air Corp at Southern Illinois Normal College during World War II. After the war Charles returned to Carbondale to marry Elizabeth. They settled there and he worked at Eason Motor Company for many years before earning his bachelors degree from Southern Illinois University. Charles taught shop at Lincoln Junior High School and then taught small engine repair at the vocational program with Carbondale Community High School. Having received his masters degree from S.I.U. in 1967 he became head of Ferris State Colleges Automotive Technology Department in Big Rapids, MI. He served as department head for 20 years, solidifying the schools reputation as one of the nations top programs in automotive and heavy equipment technology. He was highly skilled in woodworking, enjoyed vegetable gardening and loved to play league golf in Big Rapids. His colleagues, friends and neighbors had high regard for Charles and will miss him as will his family. During WWII Charles served throughout the Southwest Pacific Theater as a B-24 bomber pilot. He was a highly decorated veteran, earning The Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. Charles was selected for B-29 training near the end of the war but chose to leave the service after many long delays in scheduling for pilot training. He served more than twenty-five years in the Air Force Reserves in Carbondale and later Grand Rapids, MI before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Charles and Emma (Heinrich) Rathjen, hisloving wife of 62 years, Elizabeth, two brothers and a sister. Surviving are daughter Nancy (Tom) Lobenstein (both formerly of Carbondale), four grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth (Kevin), Charles Aric (Emily), Sharon Adele (Wesley), Kristen Anne, and three great grand daughters, Lane, Lorilee and Savannah. His family will host a service of remembrance at the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids at 6:00 p.m. Monday, January 25, 2010. Friends, neighbors and colleagues are invited to share memories and stories about Chuck. Interment will be next to his wife Elizabeth at Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale, IL. His family extends appreciation to Marinda and Linda from Hospice of Montgomery who attended Charles during his final days.
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