Harves Christian Rahe

Harves was born in Aurora, Indiana on June 23, 1914, the week World War I began. He enjoyed a rural childhood on a small, hilltop farm with his parents, Charles Henry and Mathilda Anna Harves Rahe, and six older siblings. Highlights included

Lutheran school, swimming in Stony Lonesome Creek, a head-first fall into the basement and his dog Brownie.

On April 11, 1942, Harves married Dorothea Elizabeth Penley Updyke in Barboursville, W. Va. While helping raise their three

children (Charles-1943, Nancy-1949 and John-1950), he taught at universities in the Midwest and worked on a doctorate in

business education (Indiana U.). His engaging demeanor and ready wit equipped him to be an effective professor and he loved

his work. Harves ended his 43-year career in 1978 and embarked on a 34-year retirement.

After retiring from Southern Illinois University, Harves and Dorothea moved from Carbondale, IL to Denver to share life

with their 3 children, 9 grandkids and 4 great-grandkids. Harves treasured his family and was most content when they

gathered at his home. He relished church activities (where he volunteered as bookkeeper for several years in the 1980s), being

with friends, entertaining visitors and playing pinochle, bridge, Upwords, Rummicube or most any game.

Harves was adored by his children and grandchildren with whom he was patient, kind, generous and fair. And who would not

love a Grandpa who made them laugh, engaged them with his gentle spirit, played with them and wore silly hats? Harves

endured adversity and emotional loss (even pain) with quiet resolve. He loved to make people laugh and intrigued those he

encountered with his ready wit and twinkling eye.

In many ways a man of simple tastes and living, Harves was also an anomaly. Raised on a farm by an immigrant father, Harves was the first in his family to attend college and to obtain masters and doctoral degrees. Apparently headed for an agrarian life of manual labor, he became a nationally known and respected academician while retaining the values of thrift, faith and humility with which he was raised. Harves' life expectancy was 46 years (males born in 1914) but he survived for 99.

Harves' grateful family rejoices in the years God let them share

with him, celebrates his lengthy and productive life, embraces his

legacy of humor and humility, and cherishes his sustaining memory

until they join him with the Lord.