Jerry Rabe

JERRY RABE

Blairstown

Jerry Rabe, 56, died Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, from an accident along Highway 151 between Marion and Springville while he was helping fix a family member's car. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct., 3, at

Grace Lutheran Church in Blairstown, with Pastor David Rempfer officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Blairstown.

Jerry Daniel Rabe was born Dec. 3, 1957, in Marengo, Iowa, to Wayne and Helen Bruch Rabe. He attended Benton Community Schools, graduating in 1976. On Feb. 21, 1981, he was united in marriage to Diane Burkle at Grace Lutheran Church in Blairstown. Jerry owned and operated Rabe Trucking and Tiling.

He was a member and trustee of Grace Lutheran Church and a board member of Coon Creek Telephone Co.

Jerry enjoyed his four-wheeling trips to Colorado, playing cards and camping, but his greatest joy was time spent with his children and grandchildren.

He was a hard worker and was always ready to help someone in need. Like his father, he also was a jokester.

He is survived by his wife, Diane, and his mother, Helen, both of Blairstown; sons: Ben (Sarah) and their sons, Noah and Eli, of Springville, Mark Rabe of Lexington, Mass., and Daniel Rabe of Cedar Rapids; brothers, Jim (Connie) Rabe of Center Point and Joseph Rabe of Blairstown; and sister, Nancy (Scott) Zimmerman of Windsor, Colo.

He was preceded in death by his father and two grandchildren.

Memorials may be directed to the family and Grace Lutheran Church.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton is caring for Jerry and his family.

Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.