Charlene Swanson

Family will be gathering 6:00pm Monday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, family request memorials to the following: (1) Revive Church, Brooklyn Park, MN  (2) Concord Baptist Church, Jefferson City, MO  (3) Billy Graham Ministires  (4) Focus on the Family Ministries

Charlene Claire Rahe was born November 21, 1942 in Belleville, Kansas to Clarence and Sybil Rahe. She has an identical twin sister, Charlotte. Charlene grew up on a farm in Republic where she attended country school and graduated salutatorian from Republic High School in 1960. Charlene began her college education at Kansas State and completed her degree in Elementary Education at University of Missouri – St. Louis in 1968. She worked in the St. Louis schools as a classroom teacher and worked in the library at the junior high school where the kids attended. Gerald and Charlene met in Manhattan, Kansas on a blind date and were married on August 26, 1962. Charlene accepted Christ as her Savior when she was 10 and lived to honor and glorify Him in all she did. She loved God’s beauty in nature. She enjoyed singing in the choir, Bible study, and game nights with family and friends, putting together puzzles, beading and sewing. She was a wonderful mother and provided tremendous support to her husband, children and grandchildren. She loved cheering on her grandchildren in their sports – cheering and clapping louder than the cheerleaders themselves! She was a sweet, kind, special person who enjoyed interacting with many people. Her light shone brightly for Christ as she mentored, taught Women’s Bible Study, assisted Gerald in leading Prime Timers Sunday School and visited those in need. She was a friend to many and a joy to be around . Her smile, laughter, love for the Lord will always be remembered. Her laugh will be missed by many! Charlene Claire (Rahe) Swanson, age 74, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 8, 2017. She is survived by her husband, Gerald; daughter, Debbie (Scott) Schneidermann; son, Scott (Patty) Swanson; five grandchildren: Breanna, Jordan, and Jared Schneidermann; Bryan and Jane Swanson. She is also survived by her sister, Charlotte Nelson; brother, Randy (Phyllis) Rahe, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Sybil Rahe.

Visitation at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral home in Belleville Monday, May 15 from 6:30 – 8:00 and visitation prior to the service at Republic United Methodist Church May 16 from 11:30 – 12:30pm. Funeral service will be 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at the United Methodist Church, Republic, Kansas with Dr. Monte Shinkle of Jefferson City, Missouri officiating. Burial will be in Washington Cemetery, rural Republic, Kansas. Memorials may be made to Revive Church, Brooklyn Park, MN, Concord Baptist Church, Jefferson City, MO, The Billy Graham Association or Focus on the Family Ministries. Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, Belleville, Kansas was in charge of these arrangements.

Isaiah 41:10 ¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Jeremiah 29:10-14 ¹⁰ This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,” declares the Lord , “and will bring you back from captivity. ^{[ a ]} I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord , “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”