John Rath

Rev. John H. Rath, 73, Topeka, died Wednesday, June 30, 2004 at a Topeka hospital.

He was born April 19, 1931 to Gustof and Hulda Kiepke Rath. He married Constance Lossner on June 24, 1956 in San Diego, California. John graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University, Milwaukee and with a Master's of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He served as Senior Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Topeka, from 1965 until his retirement in 1995. For the past nine years he had served Faith Lutheran as Pastor Emeritus. Previously, John had served as pastor at Immanuel and Christ Lutheran Churches in Lynch and Spencer, Nebraska from 1960 to 1965. During his years of ministry, he also served as Circuit Counselor, on the Board of Parish Education, the Recruitment Committee, the Scholarship Committee, and the Chair of Pastor's Conference in Nebraska.

He is survived by his wife, Connie; his daughters and their husbands, Catherine and Craig Gates, Sharon and Everett Lowe, Diane and R.G. Shaffer, Cyndi and Bob Spinelli; his son and his wife, Mike and Mary Rath; his grandchildren, Brett Thoms, Mandi Jo Rath, Erin and John Hoestje, Sean Spinelli, Jamin Halladay, Luke Shaffer, Johnny Rath, Evan Spinelli, Eric Shaffer, Barbara Rath, Rachael Lowe, Sierra Spinelli, Elissa Spinelli; and five great-grandchildren. His surviving family also includes a brother, Gerald Rath and a sister, Marge Engelbrecht.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday at Faith Lutheran Church, preceded by private interment in Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Rev. Rath will lie in state after noon Friday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 6-8 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 1716 SW Gage Blvd., 66604.

Online condolences may be left at www.penwellgabel.com.