Mae Lavern McShane Rabe Christian passed away peacefully at Black Hawk Life Care Center in Lake View, IA, on Thursday, September 08, 2016.
Mae was born in her family home on November 30, 1919, in Ida Grove, IA to Lowell Leonard McShane and Frieda Emma Marie Rabe.
She was baptized July 7, 1928, and confirmed March of 1934 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ida Grove. Mae received her education at Ida Grove Grade and High School graduating with honors in 1938. After high school she worked for a lawyer as secretary until she met her first husband Melvin Lewis Rabe – they were married April 27, 1941. Two children were born from this union, Leon and Jan.
Melvin and Mae were members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Odebolt where Mae taught Sunday school for many years. Not ever living on a farm she learned fast how busy this life was, cooking meals for hay balers and harvest season, canning vegetables, cleaning chickens, baking delicious pies and occasionally chasing escaped pigs or cattle, but she never complained. Every Saturday morning you could count on smelling fresh cinnamon rolls coming out of the oven and her listening to Big Band Music on KAYL. She and Melvin loved ballroom dancing, especially the jitterbug. Melvin and Mae celebrated 25 years of marriage in 1966; Melvin was killed three years later in a tractor accident on June 6, 1969.
In 1973 Mae married Eugene L. Christian and they made their home in Lake View, Gene “Christy” passed away August 3, 1984 from cancer but Mae remained in her home at the Lake.
Mae was preceded in death by her two husbands, Melvin and Christy; son Leon in 2001; her parents; a brother Clarence “Mickey” McShane-Florida; a sister and brother-in-law Frieda Doris (Wes) Anderson-California; and infant sister Anabel Laura McShane; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Robert and Marge Buehler, Vern and Vera McDonough, and Betty Cochran; nephews: David McDonough, Duane Buehler and Cole Cochran.
Those left to cherish wonderful memories are Mae’s daughter Jan (Mark) Hosteng, Lake View; grandchildren: Kari (Todd) Pottinger, Hastings, MN and children, T.J., Zach, Alix, and Cate; Travis (Sherry) Hosteng, Ames, IA and children, Drake, Addison, and Morgan; daughter-in-law Char Rabe, Rochester, MN; grandchildren: Kirsten (Dale) Fleming, Eyota, MN and children: Joshua (Becky) Fleming and Lydia Fleming; Tim Rabe and his son Nicko, Minneapolis, MN; Matt (Tamara) Rabe, Bedford, TX and children Caitlin and Ashtyn; Christy (Ben) Brandt, Owatonna, MN and children Rebekah and Noah; Anna (Keith) Campbell, Rochester, MN and children Cora, Hayden, and Kara; one great-great grandchild Ezra Fleming; nieces: Donna Buehler, Odebolt, and family; Jeanine (Bill) Davidson, Cedar Falls, IA, and family; Linda Checke, New Jersey, and family; nephews: Roger (Ellen) Buehler, Odebolt and family; Doug (Nancy) McDonough, Illinois and family; four stepchildren; and many extended family members.
In lieu of flowers the family as requested memorials to the Lake View Library.