Jesse D Rathburn

Jesse joined the U.S. Army at the age of 17 in 1943; his desire to join the military overcame him so he fibbed just a little about his age. While serving in the Army, he put in 23 years with the Corp of Engineers.

He fought in WWII building bridges so General Patten could get his tanks across the Rhine River in Germany.

After the war, Jesse met a young Frauläin in Germany, who was too young to marry, so he courted her for 8 years till she came of age. He brought Hannelora back to the U.S. where she then became an US citizen and bore him for 4 wonderful sons.

After the first two boys were born, Jesse went to serve in the Korean War, where he came home after serving 23 years for his country, then joined the civil service for another 21 years before retiring for good.

Jesse Rathburn's many loves outside of family consisted of hunting, camping, gardening, and fishing. There wasn't a day that went by that one wouldn't hear a story of exaggerated fishing expeditions and tales of the size of the fish and the large ones that got away, along with many colorful stories and jokes that he used on his grandchildren.

Jesse was preceded in death by his parents, Julia May, Jesse Alexander Rathburn. Brothers: William, Lloyd, Frank and Kenneth Rathburn. and Sisters: Rosalee and Ulabelle, his late wife Hannelora Maria Rathburn and his youngest son, Michael Rathburn.

Jesse is survived by sons: Charles Dawes Rathburn, David Jesse Rathburn and wife Kimberly Ann Rathburn, and Robert Kenneth Rathburn, several nieces and nephews, grandchildren; Arvid Rathburn, Jennifer Eatherton, Michael Rathburn, Holly Rathburn, Broc Rathburn, and 7 great grandchildren.