Richard Rath

Richard Lee Rath, 68 of Sherrard, passed away January 29, 2022, at his residence with his wife at his side.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday February 5, 2022, a Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home.  Inurnment will be at the Glendale Cemetery, LeClaire, IA.  Memorials can be made to the Sherrard Fire Department.

Rich was born July 25, 1953, in Rock Island, IL son of   William Thomas and Georgia Ann Kelty Rath.  He graduated from Winola High School class of 1971.  Rich married Cynthia K. Harader and they had a daughter Stacey, and a son Lee that passed at birth.  He later married Paula Scheiss on July 22, 1991, in the City Park of Deadwood, South Dakota.

Rich Joined the Sherrard Volunteer Fire Department in July of 1982 and became an EMT.  Rich retired as assistant Chief from the Sherrard Fire Department in May of 2017 after 35 years of service.  In 1998 he became a Paramedic.  He then worked for Galesburg Hospitals Ambulance Service.  Richard graduated from Carl Sandburg College of Nursing in May of 1998 and went on to work for Community Medical Center in Monmouth then Unity Point Health Trinity and retired from there as a Patient Care Supervisor in December of 2020.

Rich also loved to travel; he and Paula would take long vacations traveling to all parts of the United States to visit the National Parks.  His favorite trip was two weeks in Alaska and the second was to Hawaii.

Rich leaves behind his wife of 30 years, Paula, daughter, Stacey Rath and Gary Bates Jr. of Galva, Illinois.  Stepsons, Aaron Frels of West Burlington, Iowa and Jason and Calynn Schiess of Matherville, Illinois.  Brothers, Bill and Sherill Rath of Viola, Illinois and Mike and Sandy Rath of Galesburg, Illinois.  Six grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Lee, a brother, Tim Rath, a sister Kim Dilts and a stepson Edwin Frels.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.