Thomas Lee Rath

Grafton resident, Thomas Lee Rath, 83, passed away Thursday, October 20, 2016, at Bryan Medical Center East Campus in Lincoln, NE. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 25, 2016, at Hope Reformed Church in Sutton, NE with Rev. Darrell Kingswood officiating. Interment will follow at the Sutton Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion Argonne Post #61. Visitation will be Monday from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, NE. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later. Thomas Lee Rath was born April 13, 1933, in Grafton, NE at his family home to Henry and Adolphine (Griess) Rath. After attending country school for eight years he graduated from Sutton High School in 1950. He was drafted into the United States Army and proudly served two years in Korea. He was a self-employed farmer. Tom was a man who had a very strong love of God, church and family. His faith and the faith of his loved ones was very important to him. He was always concerned for the spiritual welfare of his family. He grew up on his family farm and continued farming between Grafton and Sutton all his life. He loved his land, farming, shorthorn cattle and his pets. A great delight of his was combining corn, without a cab, and enjoying the beautiful fall days of harvest. Tom was beyond an avid Husker fan and spent many a day watching football and baseball games. He also enjoyed the St Louis Cardinals and knew stats of most of his favorite teams throughout the decades. Tom enjoyed lots of bacon and eggs, Wendy's chili, coffee and candy and a good bargain. He was always ready to find the best price of whatever he needed. On the contrary however, he was also a very generous man and was always ready and willing to help out a worthy cause, especially he would support a niece or nephew, or the spreading of the gospel. Those fortunate to know Tommy will always remember his zest for life and his delight in teasing us. He had a fun way of talking and could say "Boom", "Choice", "Level" or "Supreme", and we would always laugh and knew exactly what he meant. His tender heart was the core of the man we knew and loved. He will be truly missed. He was a member of Hope Reformed Church and the VFW. He is survived by his sisters, Arlene Hanthorn of Sutton, NE; Virginia (Dale) Richards of Geneva, NE; sister-in-law, Leona Rath of Sutton, NE; 21 nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his still born twin brother, his brother, Robert Rath; sisters, Marion Rasmussen, Helen Smith, Iris Schmahl, and nephews, Greg Rasmussen and Jeff Schmahl.

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Thomas Lee Rath

April 13, 1933 - October 20, 2016