Sophia Rabe

PALMER – Sophia W. Rabe, 100, of Palmer, KS, passed away Monday, October 22, 2007, at the Linn Nursing Home. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 25, 2007, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Palmer. Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 24, from noon until 8:00 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home in Linn. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Sophia was born September 24, 1907, on the farm south of Greenleaf, KS, the daughter of Ernest and Irene (Hagedorn) Bierbaum. Rev. H.D. Wagner baptized Sophia on October 6, 1907, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Barnes. Rev. Otto Keller confirmed her on May 5, 1921. Her confirmation verse was “Be thou faithful until death and I will give thee a crown of life” Rev. 2.10. She attended Chapman Country School and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church School for 7th and 8th grades. On April 30, 1931, she married Theodore H. Rabe at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. The Rev. L.W. Timme officiated. This union was blessed with five children: Donald, LaVon, Norman, Irene and Carol. After her marriage, she became a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Palmer. She was a charter member of St. John’s Tabitha Society, organized January 31, 1935, and was a member until it disbanded. She lived near Palmer all her married life and was a resident of the Linn Community Nursing Home since July 2002. She enjoyed sewing, her garden and flowers. She was a loving mother and grandmother, and loved cooking for her family. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Theodore, in 1988; one infant son, Norman; one infant daughter, Irene; one daughter, Carol, in 1952; four brothers, Albert, Edwin, Louis and Raymond; one sister, Edna Davidson, and son-in-law, Donald Hornbostel. Survivors include one son, Donald Rabe and his wife Eunice, of Clay Center, KS; one daughter, LaVon Hornbostel, of Palmer, KS; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. A memorial fund has been established and will benefit the church. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, Linn, KS. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sophia Rabe, please visit our flower store.