Irene E. Rath

Harvard resident, Irene E. Rath, 85, passed away Monday, October 22, 2012 at Harvard House Assisted Living, Harvard, NE. Services will be Saturday, October 27, 2012, at 10 am at the Harvard United Church of Christ, in Harvard, NE with Pastor Dave Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Harvard Cemetery, Harvard, NE. Visitation will be Friday, October 26, 2012 from 12 noon to 9 pm with the family present from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Alberding-Wilson Funeral Home in Harvard, NE. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. Memorials may be given to the Harvard United Church of Christ, in Harvard, NE or the AseraCare Hospice in York, NE. Irene was born November 30, 1926 to William and Florence (Snyder) Darby in Hastings, NE. in 1931 she moved with her family to Denver, CO and graduated from the Manuel High School in 1944. On August 1, 1944 she married Russell Rath of Harvard, NE in Mankato, KS; he passed away October 25, 2004. Irene and Russell lived the majority of their lives in Harvard, NE. Irene worked for NKC in Harvard, NE as a bookkeeper for several years. She was a member of the Harvard United Church of Christ, in Harvard, NE, and past president of the Ladies Auxiliary. She also was a member of the Harvard Planning and Zoning commission for Clay County and served on the city council in Harvard, NE. Irene will be especially remembered for her garden and flower beds but also her love of roses. Over the years she has planted and maintained many rose bushes between Harvard and Hastings. Her latest plantings were at the Harvard House Assisted Care, in Harvard, NE. She is survived by her children, Doug Rath and wife Kimberly of Lincoln, NE, Ron Rath and wife Carol of Thornton, CO and Cheryl Schram and husband Gene of Kansas City, Kansas, nine grandchildren, Kelli, Tom, Jenny, Matt, Jason, Jeffrey, Makenzie, Austin and Kramer, 10 great grandchildren, one sister in law, Lois Sheppard of Lincoln, NE and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, and husband Russell.