Ollie Rathje, 87, of Perry passed away Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, at the Rowley Masonic Community in Perry, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. at the Carris Family Funeral Home and Cremation Care in Perry. Visitation will be Tuesday, Sept. 8 from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. The family asks that everyone attending wear a face mask and practice social distancing.
Burial will be at the Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry. Memorials will be given to the Raccoon Valley Pet Rescue and may be left at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent at www.carrisfuneralhome.com.
Ollie Viola Willis Rathje was born July 9, 1933. in Elk Creek, Missouri, to Willard Allan and Grace Mae (Browne) Roberts.
She graduated from Churdan High School and later from the Iowa Beauty School, graduating in May 1964.
Ollie was united in marriage to Dean Earnest Rathje at First United Methodist Church in Perry Dec. 9, 1976.
She worked as a switch board operator for the phone company, a meter maid for the city of Perry and a radio dispatcher for the Perry Police Department.
Ollie was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Eastern Star.
She enjoyed going “junkin’,” loved to cook, especially desserts, collecting recipes and Angels, spoiling her grandkids and going out to eat.
In death she rejoins her husband, Dean; parents, Willard and Grace; sisters, Bea Boyd, Alma Thede and Fereleen Acton; and a brother, David Roberts.
Left to cherish Ollie’s memory are her sons, Billy (Wanda) Willis of Perry and Barry (Lisa) Willis of Perry; grandchildren, Cory Willis, Megan (Tanner) Gray, James Willis, Brad Willis, Jesse Willis and Kyle Willis; great-grandchildren, Coby Gray, Lucas, Max and Parker Gray, Cooper and Brecklynn Willis, Lilly and Gracie Willis, Holland Willis, Trent Willis, Kamron Willis and Karmen Willis; siblings, Delmar (Carol) Roberts, Doyle Roberts, Gladys (Joe) Taylor and Earl (Pat) Roberts.
