Inge Fernbach Rabe went home to be with the Lord, passing away peacefully at the age of 95 at Arbor Hospice Residence in Saline, Michigan on November 27, 2019, surrounded by the love of her family.
She was born in Germany in 1924. Although she was raised in a Christian family, her Jewish ancestry made her a target of Nazi persecution. Her deep faith in God as her Heavenly Father sustained her through years of hardship.
After surviving the war in Germany, her sense of adventure and longing for opportunity led her to embark on a trans-Atlantic journey, immigrating to the United States in 1955. She enjoyed working in the health care field and became a Registered Radiologic Technician. She met her husband, Gerald Rabe, in New York City; they were married in 1959. She found great joy in being a stay-at-home mom to their two children, Mitzi and Dan, later working in Medical Transcription.
In recent years, she delighted in her two granddaughters, Jennie and Lizzie, Skyping with them regularly and visiting them in Colorado when she was able.
She was an avid gardener, leaving any place where she lived blossoming with plants and lush with trees. She taught herself to build bookshelves, and loved to tinker. Playfully young at heart, she had a special fondness for teddy bears. A faithful letter writer, she kept in touch with many lifelong friends, and eventually authored her autobiography, "Obstacles, Miracles and Love." She was known for her courage, spunk, and curiosity.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald Rabe, and her twin brother, Linders Fernbach. She is survived by her daughter Mitzi Rabe, son Dan (Lisa) Rabe, granddaughters Jennie & Lizzie Rabe, as well as several nieces.
A funeral service will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at University Lutheran Chapel, 1511 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104. A visitation will be held Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at Nie Family Funeral Home, 2400 Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and also again on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 from 10:30 AM until time of service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mott Teddy Bear Program at https://www.mottchildren.org/giving/priorities/gift-bear or the Salvation Army Bed and Bread Program.