Robert Rathe

ROBERT ALLYN RATHE

Cedar Rapids

Robert "Bob" Allyn Rathe was welcomed home to his Lord after his courageous 10-year battle with Parkinson's disease and rapidly progressive dementia on April 1, 2016. He was 72.

Bob was born May 4, 1943, in Waverly, Iowa, to his parents, Reinhold and Lenora Rathe. He graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in agricultural engineering in 1965. Bob married Kathleen Perisho in 1963. The Rathes moved to Dubuque, where Bob worked at John Deere. Over the years, the Rathes raised four children. Bob's career took their family to Cedar Rapids, Maple Grove, Minn., and Cedar Falls. In 1998, Bob retired after consulting on an international project in Asia.

During retirement, Bob and Kathy moved to Lake Thunderhead in Unionville, Mo.; Stuart, Fla.; Dubuque, Iowa, and Mesa, Ariz. Bob and Kathy spent these years traveling with friends and family, visiting their children and grandchildren, and enjoying activities such as golf, tennis, bowling and billiards.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Kathy; his son and daughter-in-law, Perry and Janet (Glotfelty) Rathe of Ames; his son and daughter-in-law, Bradley and Lisa (Sperling) Rathe of Madison, Conn.; his son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Sarah (Ward) Rathe of St. Louis Park, Minn.; his daughter and son-in-law, Tawna Rathe and Aaron Cotter of Arlington, Mass.; 16 beautiful grandchildren; his four brothers and one sister.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Lewy Body Dementia Association or Sage Hospice in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Celebration of Life arrangements will be forthcoming on the CaringBridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/robertrathe.