Rachael Elaine Howe

Rachael was born September 29, 1930, in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of Charles J and Gladys (Shesley) Anderson. As a child of the Great Depression, her hard work ethic was established in her at a young age when she was still a girl. She worked on the family farm. Her least favorite farm task was collecting eggs from the siting hens who, she said, “pecked at her hands”. Rachael also baby sat for the children of neighbors.

Around the time of her high school graduation while working at the candy counter of Keans in Mason, she met the love of her life, DuWayne Howe. They were married on January 15, 1949 at the Nazarene Church in Mason, Michgan and spent the next nearly 74 years navigating both the joys and the sorrows of married life. She and DuWayne lived in the same house on Hall Blvd in Mason, for over 73 years, the very home in which she died.

Her work ethic remained unchanged and in the early 1960’s, Rachael saw the need for further education, enrolling at Lansing Community College as a part time student. She continued her education into the 1980’s earning Master’s Degree as well as a Specialist’s Degree in Education. She began teaching at Dansville High School, and then taught at Mason, having a passion for helping students, and especially young women, develop solid vocational skills and self-confidence. She never said goodbye to teaching as a service for others, teaching Sunday School classes and leading Bible study groups well into her 80s. She was active for over 50 years in the Mason First Church of the Nazarene and over 30 years in Trinity Church, Lansing. She participated in small groups and loved to sing in both churches’ choirs.

Rachael passed on to join her husband, DuWayne in Heaven on March 27, 2025. DuWayne preceded her in death, going to his eternal home in late 2022. Brother, Russell D Anderson was the first of her 4 siblings to precede Rachael in death. Sisters, Joyce Pollok and Mary Dovey preceded her in death, both in 2013. She is also preceded in death by infant granddaughter, Renee Leigh Zanger. Her one surviving brother is Charles Anderson of Crystal, Michigan. She is survived by, her children Constance Zanger (partner Robert Essenberg), of Lansing; Bob Howe, of Mason, and Denise (and Mark Terman), of Sarasota, Florida. She is a grandmother of eight and great grandmother of 8.

In the last nearly 6 years she was lovingly cared for by the wonderful providers of Visiting Angels and who, in the last several months, worked alongside Hospice of Lansing. We are so thankful for their unending kind and patient care.

A memorial service for family and friends will be held at 1 o’clock on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home of Mason, MI. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Rachael's memory may be made to Hospice of Lansing at hospiceoflansing.org; or Mason Nazarene Church at masonnaz.com/give.