William E. 'Bill' Rabe of Chester
William E. "Bill" Rabe, 89, a community leader and Randolph County Clerk and Recorder from 1989 to 2002, passed away at 2:33 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020 at Three Springs Lodge Nursing Home in Chester.
He was born to the late William Henry and Edna (nee Meyerhoff) Rabe on June 29, 1931 in Percy, Illinois.
Bill married Yvonne Mueller on July 26, 1952 in Steeleville, Illinois, and she survives.
Prior to being appointed Randolph County Clerk in 1989 (and being subsequently elected in 1990, 1994 and 1998), Bill was the district manager and engineering clerk for Illinois Power.
He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Steeleville. He is in the Trico High School Hall of Fame. He served on the Randolph/Monroe County Board of School Trustees, the Chester Hospital Board, Western Egyptian Board, Steeleville School Board and the Peace Lutheran Church Council.
He was also a member of Chester Chamber of Commerce, Chester Rotary Club, Paul Harris Fellow and ELCA Synod Council. Bill coached Khoury League Baseball for many years and was an avid card player and St. Louis Cardinals fan.
Bill never knew a stranger and was a friend to all.
He is survived by his wife, Yvonne Rabe of Chester; four children, Denise (Gary) Ebers of Walsh, Illinois, Curt (Mary) Rabe of Sparta, Illinois, Mark (Cindy) Rabe of Bothell, Washington and Dr. Sharon (Robert) Dees of Perryville, Missouri; one sister, Catherine (Ardell) Rieckenberg of Sparta; one brother-in-law, Dr. Jerome (Carlota) Mueller of Hemet, California; 13 grandchildren, Kristin (Glenn) Wolter, Michael (Brandy) Ebers, Jennifer (Clayton) Mallette, Kathryn (Donald) Rednour, David (Rachael) Rabe, Matthew (Sarah) Rabe, Aaron (Cubbi) Rabe, Rachel Rabe, Ruth Rabe, Diane (Jon) Gannon, Janice Rabe, John (Sarah) Amschler and Dr. Jodie (John) Meara; two step-grandchildren, Robert (Tina) Dees and Michelle (Jonny) Merrithew; 25 great-grandchildren, Anna, Alan, Landon, Preston, Addison, Carter, Mackenzie, Ella, Jack, Grace, Luc, Branwen, Elizabeth, Hannah, Kenadi, Dominic, Camden, Sunny, Clara, Heidi, John Barrett, Theodore, Robin, Sam and Josie; one great-great grandchild, Lakyn; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Wilbert Rabe; four sisters, Edna Hollmann Mueller, Mildred Luehr, Lucille Beck and Margaret Schaber; one grandchild, Robin Amschler Carroll; six brothers-in-law, one sister-in-law and one nephew, Michael Beck.
A private funeral service will be held at Peace Lutheran Church with Minister Debra Rathert and Rev. Matthew Rabe officiating.
A public visitation will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8 at Peace Lutheran Church in Steeleville and a public interment will be at Peace Lutheran Cemetery following the service.
The church is limited to 65 people in the church at one time. Visitors are asked to wear masks and to observe social distancing guidelines.
Memorials in Bill's name are suggested to Peace Lutheran Church in Steeleville.
To view this obituary and sign the register book, visit www.wpfh.net.