Ronald J. Rathburn    1956-2002

     Ronald Joseph “Joe” Rathburn, 45, St. Joseph, Mo., passed away Wednesday, May 1, 2002, at his home.

     Joe was born on Dec. 5, 1956, in St. Joseph and had lived in Lee’s Summit, Mo., prior to returning to St. Joseph.

     He was a fire safety engineer with Factory Mutual for 17 years.

     Mr. Rathburn was a graduate of Lafayette High School and a 1979 graduate of Missouri Western State College with a bachelor of engineering degree in science technology.

     He was a member of Our Lady of the Presentation Parish in Lee’s Summit and a Missouri Western Alumni.

     Mr. Rathburn was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer F. and Marjorie (Vienhage) Rathburn.

     Surviving:  four sister, Susan Bigelow and Ann Robison, both of St. Joseph and Alice Rathburn and Anita Rathburn, both of Gladstone, Mo.; two brothers, Fred Rathburn, Lee’s Summit, and Dennis Rathburn, St. Joseph; 11 nieces and nephews; and four great-nieces and great-nephews.

     Prayer service: noon Saturday,  Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel, St. Joseph.  Interment: Mount Olivet Cemetery, St. Joseph.  Visitation: after 3 p.m. today at the funeral chapel, where the family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 tonight and a rosary will be recited at 7:30 tonight.  The family has requested memorials to the Humane Society or Valley Hope of Atchison, Kan.