Elizabeth Ester Rathjen's Obituary
Big Rapids Elizabeth Ester Rathjen, 89, of Big Rapids, MI, formerly of Carbondale, passed away Tuesday, January 15, 2008, at her residence. She was born May 21, 1918, in Winter Haven, Florida, the daughter of Al and Maude (Ragland) Eason, and moved to Carbondale, IL, as a child. In 1936, she graduated from Carbondale Community High School, and attended Southern Illinois University for two years. While in Carbondale, Elizabeth worked as an accountant for her fathers business, Eason Motor Company. She then worked as a home representative for Central Illinois Public Service, and later as a secretary for the Carbondale Police Department. On December 24, 1945, she married Charles H. Chuck Rathjen in Carbondale, and they moved to Big Rapids in 1967, where she had lived since. A member of the First United Methodist Church of Big Rapids, Elizabeth also served as the church secretary for six years. She liked to sew, and she loved to golf, having recorded a hole-in-one at Winters Creek Golf Course. Surviving are her husband Chuck; a daughter Nancy Elizabeth (Tom) Lobenstein of Montgomery, AL; 4 grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth (Kevin) Taylor, Charles Aric (fiance Emily Hopper) Lobenstein, Sharon Adele Lobenstein, and Kristen Anne Lobenstein; 2 great-granddaughters, Lane Elizabeth Taylor and Lorilee Hadden Taylor; 2 sisters, Mildred (Tom) McCabe of El Paso, TX, and Ina Fite of Carterville, IL; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Wanda Vaughn, a sister-in-law Peggy Huff, and a brother-in-law Eddie Rathjen. Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 21, at the Carbondale First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Kristen M. Madison officiating. Interment will be in the Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale. Her family will greet friends at the church after 10 a.m. on Monday. For more information, please contact the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids, MI at 231-796-8628.
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