Donald Raber

Donald R. Raber

GRIDLEY - Donald R. Raber, 77, of Gridley died at 6:36 a.m.
Thursday (Sept. 6, 2012) at his home, after a courageous battle
with brain cancer, surrounded by his loving family.



Don was born June 11, 1935 in Bloomington, the son of Lloyd C.
Raber and Alma M. Schirch Raber. He married Carolyn Ann Riddle on
November 29, 1964 in Weldon.



Surviving are his wife, Carolyn, and his children, Amy (Gordon)
Koerner, Washington; Sara (J.C.) Zimmerman, Saybrook and Douglas
(Amy) Raber of Gridley. Also surviving are his grandchildren,
Andrew, Alyssa and Abigail Koerner; Brittany, Macey, Carley and
Levi Zimmerman; and Addison and Jacob Raber; great-grandson Jaydon
Brewbaker; and his sisters, Dolores (Everett) Gapen of Gilbert, AZ
and Cheryl (James) Miller of Wyanet, IL. He was preceded in death
by his parents and his infant twin brother, Ronald Raber.



Don grew up in rural Graymont, IL. He graduated from Flanagan
High School and was in the U.S. Army from 1958-1960. He farmed all
his life. He was a member of the former Meadows Mennonite Church
and presently attended the First United Church in Gridley. He
served on the Meadows Cooperative Board, Graymont Cooperative
Board, Chenoa School Board, Meadows Mennonite Church Board, Spare
N'Share Board and the Federal Housing Authority Board. His hobbies
included woodworking, attending activities of his grandchildren,
walking and playing shuffleboard. After retiring, Don and Carolyn
spent winters in Arizona and later in Florida.



Funeral services will be held at First United Church in Gridley
at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 10 with Pastor Andy Huette
officiating. Visitation will be at Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home in
El Paso from 4:00 -8:00 pm on Sunday and one hour prior to the
service at the church. Burial will be in Gridley Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Illinois Cancer Care Foundation in
Peoria, IL or OSF Hospice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald Raber, please visit our floral store.