Obituary of Ronald G. Rathke

Dr. Ronald G. Rathke 78, of Carlinville, passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2012 surrounded by his family. He was born on November 7, 1934 to Irvin and Kathryn Elizabeth (Price) Rathke at Litchfield, Illinois. Ron was a 1952 graduate of Carlinville High School. On June 5, 1955 he married Carolyn Ann Calverd at the Federated Church in Carlinville. He attended Blackburn College and graduated from Washington University School of Dentistry in 1959. Upon graduation from dental school he served in the United States Air Force as a Captain at Offut Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska until 1961. Ron and Carolyn returned to Carlinville in 1961 to open a private dental practice. He retired from dentistry in 1993. Ron loved to spend time with his family, hunt, fish, and garden. He and Carolyn were fortunate enough to travel extensively with family and good friends. He was a huge animal lover, always having one or more dogs by his side. He was involved with an extensive reforesting project through the state of Illinois Conservation Department in 1984 and 1985 where he planted over 7,000 black walnut trees on his property southwest of Carlinville. He served on the Carlinville Public School board for 19 years, was a founder of the Carlinville Public School Foundation and a lifelong supporter and advocate of the Carlinville school district. Ron was a member of the Carlinville United Methodist Church and a board member for Farmers and Merchants National Bank in Carlinville for over 20 years. Ronald is survived by his loving spouse of 57 years, Carolyn, 3 daughters - Denise Boente (husband Dr. Steven), Cheryl Davis (husband Shawn), and Lynne Evans (husband Robert), all of Carlinville; 6 Grandchildren - Dr. Erin Boente, Elyse Srygley (husband Trey), Stephen Boente, Michael Davis (fiance Alicia Robinson), Nicholas Evans, and Elisabeth Evans; brother-in-law - Floyd Weller; several nieces, nephews, and cousins, and his dog Katie. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law Joyce Weller. Funeral Information Visitation will be held Saturday, December 01, 2012, from 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm at the Carlinville United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, December 2, 2012, at 2:00 pm at the Carlinville United Methodist Church, with Rev. Robert Taylor, officiating. Burial will take place in Mayfield Memorial Park Cemetery in Carlinville, with military honors being conducted by the American Legion Guy Baird Post 554. Serving as pallbearers are Dr. Steven Boente, Shawn Davis, Robert Evans, Michael Davis, Stephen Boente, Nicholas Evans, and Trey Srygley. Honorary pallbearers will be Norman Bowman, Robert Bell, Earl Bellm, Johnny Davis, Richard Price, Joe Formea, Pat Bowyer, Mac Wiltshire, Floyd Weller, and Dick Lounsbury. Donations Information Memorials are suggested to the Carlinville Public School Foundation, Carlinville United Methodist Church, or Carlinville Area Hospital Auxiliary. Directions Visitation: Carlinville United Methodist Church Service: Carlinville United Methodist Church Cemetery: Mayfield Cemetery