George A. Rahn

George A. Rahn was born to Abraham and Helena (Penner) Rahn on August 22, 1924, on a farm north of Delft, Minnesota. On December 28, 1948, George was married to Gladys J. Derksen at the old country EMB Church north of Mt. Lake, Minnesota. To this union four children were born: twins Violette and Vernelle, Rogene, and David. Growing up George's family moved around in the Delft, Bingham Lake, and Mt. Lake areas. George attended various country schools. Eventually his parents purchased a farm northwest of Mt. Lake where George lived until his marriage. He graduated from Mt. Lake Public School in 1943. Like his father, George was a farmer. George and Gladys began their married life on a farm place northeast of Mt. Lake. Then in 1954 George bought a farm four miles north of Butterfield where George and Gladys raised their family. Later additional land was purchased. In the early years of farming, George ran a custom baling business, fed out feeder cattle that he would buy at Fort Pierre, SD, and maintained a dairy herd. From 1983 to 2009 (until age 85) George joined with his son-in-law Glen Jones on the summer wheat run, harvesting grain from Oklahoma to North Dakota. He saw many changes in farming during his lifetime. He started his career picking corn by hand, shocking oats, driving a team of horses on a threshing ring, and having his first corn crop planted by horses. He ended his career with owning a big track tractor and a combine with a GPS system. George accepted Christ as his Savior in his youth and was baptized at age 15. He loved the Lord and loved the church, faithfully attending every Sunday. He served many years on the Deacon Board and as a Sunday School teacher at the Gospel Mennonite Church (Lakeview Gospel). He had a heart for missions and fully stood behind his daughter Violette and her husband in their missionary work in Japan. He believed in Christian education. For years he operated the Rahn Bus Service, transporting children, including his own, to the Mt. Lake Christian Day School. George and Gladys were blessed to live a long life together in their own home until a series of strokes took George's life on December 21, 2017, at age 93. George and Gladys missed celebrating their 69th wedding anniversary by one week. Left to remember a life well-lived, are his wife Gladys; daughter Violette (Paul) Bridgman of Okayama, Japan, and grandsons Jeffrey (Hannah) Bridgman and Kevin (Melinda) Bridgman; daughter Vernelle (Glen) Jones of Greenfield, Iowa, and grandchildren Brian Jones, Brenda (Cameron) Hamer, and Susan (Marlan) Currier; daughter Rogene (Curtis) Gunther of Waterloo, Iowa, and grandchildren Michael Gunther, Jonathan Gunther, and Joanna (Emanuel) Martinez; son David Rahn of Butterfield, Minnesota; 13 great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law Shirley Rahn. George was preceded in death by his parents Abraham and Helena Rahn; parents-in-law Jacob and Tena Derksen; brothers Henry and Albert Rahn; brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws Verna Rahn, Albert and Katherine Derksen, Sam and Esther Derksen, Henry and Rosella Derksen, Eddie and Delphe Derksen, Lando and Ann Derksen, and Masel and Hilda Anson. The family of George Rahn wishes to thank you for your kindness and sympathy at a time when it was deeply appreciated. Visitation 1 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Wednesday, December 27, 2017 Sturm Funeral Home, Mountain Lake Chapel 420 - 10th St. N. Mtn. Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Visitation 2 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Thursday, December 28, 2017 Lakeview Gospel Church-Mt Lake 1002 North 10th St. Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Service Information 2:00 pm Thursday, December 28, 2017 Lakeview Gospel Church-Mt Lake 1002 North 10th St. Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Interment Information Mountain Lake City Cemetery 10th St. N at Midway Rd Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159