Loris Walter Rather, 82, beloved husband of Lois (Hogrefe) Rather for 60 years, passed away peacefully in Waukesha, Wisconsin surrounded by loving family members on May 10, 2018.
He was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Alma Rather, his sister, Elvira Rather who died at birth and his brothers Arthur and Wilbur Rather.
In addition to his wife Lois, Loris is survived by his sister Levina Rather, his children: Kevin and his wife Christine (Rex) Rather, Kathleen and her husband Richard Rose, Cynthia and her husband Steve Lehman, and Joleen and her husband Daniel Paige; his 12 grandchildren: Kimberly, William, Samantha, Andrew, Justin, Katarina, David, Frederick, Regina, Jack, Mackenzie, and Lilly; and his 10 great-grandchildren: Jacob, Rachael, Emily, Henry, Maxwell, Aletta, Penelope, William, Judah and Jane.
Loris was born March 16, 1936 in Ludell, Kansas. He attended college at St. John’s Winfield and then transferred to Concordia Teachers College, Seward, NE where he received a B.A. degree in elementary education. He later received his master’s Degree at Chicago State University, Chicago, IL. In 1957, he married Lois Hogrefe. He then began his journey as principal and teacher at Bethlehem Lutheran, Chicago IL; Zion Lutheran, Worms, NE; Zion Lutheran, Summit, IL; Apostles Lutheran, Melrose Park, IL; and St. John’s Lutheran, Portage; WI.
As a parochial school teacher, Loris had the opportunity to share his love and devotion to Jesus to a countless number of students. Christ was the center of everything he did and he lived his life being a Christian example to everyone he met. He truly embodied Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” and Deuteronomy 11:19 – “Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Well done, good and faithful servant!
Visitation will be held on May 19, 2018 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church, 31385 Hill Rd, Hartland, WI 53029 followed by a loving Eulogy at 9:45am and the funeral service at 10:00am.
The family is welcoming visitors with a luncheon at Divine Redeemer immediately following the service.
A private family burial will take place at Comstock Cemetery in Portage, WI in the afternoon and the family would like to invite family and friends to join them for a reception at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 850 Armstrong St., Portage, WI from 3:30 p.m..
Memorial contributions may be made to: Helps International, Inc., 520 Maple Ave, Hartford, WI 53027 Memo: Rather Memorial Scholarship. or you can go to www.helphispeople.org.