Norbert "Bert" Rathje

Norbert "Bert" Rathje, 88, of Rising City died Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at Brookstone Acres in Columbus.

The family has requested IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLANTS, OR STATUES, memorials to be directed to Faith Lutheran Church, Rising City VFD, or Family Choice.


Norbert (Bert) Rathje was born June 3, 1933 to Werner and Frieda (Richert) Rathje in rural Rising City. He was baptized and confirmed in St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rising City. He attended Cottonwood Country School and Rising City High School, graduating in 1951. He joined the Army National Guard and in 1953, went to active duty, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Carson, where he married Joyce (Ruth) on June 11, 1955. He was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington and Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. He was Charter Member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Honolulu. He returned to Surprise and farmed for 52 years, retiring to Rising City in 2008.
Bert was a member and Elder of Faith Lutheran Church. He was a board member of Surprise School District, Rising City Co-op, Read Township, and the Rural Board of the Rising City Fire District. Bert was a member of the Shelby Legion Post 296. He sold seed corn for 27 years.
He enjoyed attending children and grandchildren’s activities, snow skiing, lake time, traveling, Nebraska baseball and basketball games.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Joyce; daughter, Jill Rathje (Mike Koci) of Fremont; son, Corey (Bonnie) Rathje of Rising City; Grandchildren, Ashley (Andrew) Eickmeier, Sara (Ted) Johnson, and Carson Rathje, all of Rising City, and Tyler Martens of Columbus; Great grandchildren Briauna, Charli, Tripp, Arjay, Vanessa, Austyn, Colton, Addilyn, and Declan; Sister-in-law Paula Rathje of Lincoln, brother-in-law Stephen Ruth of Rising City, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Marche’ and Dale Marquis of San Marcos, Texas; Eleven nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, twin brother, Norman Rathje, sister and brother-in-law, Arlene and Robert Dittmar, sister-in-law, Eunice Ruth and parents-in-law, Wayne and Janice Ruth.