Orlo D. "Pops" Rath Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

NORFOLK -- Funeral service for Orlo D. "Pops" Rath, 91, of Norfolk will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 31, 2018 at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Norfolk with Father Scott Schilmoeller and Father Carl Zoucha officiating. Interment will be at the Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, Norfolk. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sunday at the Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk with a Rosary service beginning at 7:00 p.m. following the visitation. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post #16, V.F.W. Post #1644, both of Norfolk, and the United States Marines. Orlo died Thursday, December 27, 2018 at the St. Joseph's Care Center in Norfolk. Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk is in charge of the arrangements. Orlo Dean “Pops” Rath was born on January 10, 1927 in Coleridge, NE to Fritz and Mollie (Heitman) Rath. Orlo farmed with his dad until he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1945. Orlo served in the United States Marine Corps from September 21, 1945 to October 22, 1946. After he was honorably discharged, he returned to Coleridge. He and his brother traveled throughout the Dakotas and Iowa. During their travels, they took on several jobs such as doing farm work, meat packing plants, and driving bus. Orlo moved to Grand Island, NE where he worked for Montgomery Ward. He and his wife, Magdalene Zoucha, were married on November 7, 1953 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island. Orlo and Maggie moved to Norfolk in 1954 where Orlo continued working for Montgomery Ward. During this time he also worked at Kings Ballroom as a security guard. After 20 years with Wards, he started working for the Madison County Sheriff as a Deputy Sheriff. In 1977, he then started working for Vulcraft as a truck driver. He retired from Vulcraft in 1992 and continued driving for Car Dealerships. He is a lifelong member of the NRA, the Norfolk American Legion, the Norfolk V.F.W., The Issac Walton League, and also a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Norfolk. He is survived by his spouse Magdalene “Maggie” of Norfolk, his children, Deb Helmich of Madison, Tom “TR” Rath of Norfolk, Diane Rath of Austin, TX., Dan Rath of Darmstadt, Germany, Richard “Dick” Rath of Battle Creek, Tony Rath of Norfolk, Cindi Rath and friend Jake Knox of Tilden, 13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, sister Zella Dederman of Norfolk and brother Wilber Rath of Laurel. He is preceded in death by his parents Fritz and Mollie, brother Kenneth Rath, four sister-in-law’s, and two brother-in-law’s. Soloist will be Jacob Rath. Organist will be Mary Bruckner. Casket bearers for the service will be Marvin Zoucha, Scott Rath, Xacjare Rath, Nitasha Rath, Kyle Rath, and Kaleb Rath. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Orlo D. "Pops" Rath

January 10, 1927 - December 27, 2018