Rachel Ann (Danke) Rebman, 48, went Home to Jesus on Sunday, July 1, surrounded by family after a long battle with ALS.
Rachel was born in Waupaca on December 20, 1969 to Alan and Linda Danke. Rachel was baptized and confirmed with the Lord. She was a member of the Lind Center Beavers 4H Club. She enjoyed music, drama, writing, and art all her life. She spent childhood summers with family and lifelong friends in the Lind Center area riding horses and bikes, and swimming in Bill’s ponds. She graduated from Weyauwega-Fremont High School in 1988. She spent a year at UW-Oshkosh before joining The Continental Singers, traveling the United States and Europe. On September 7, 1991, she married Daniel Rebman. They later divorced. Her greatest joys in life were singing for the Lord and their two girls, Crystal and Emily. She made sure her girls knew the Lord and was involved in their education at local churches. Later, she and several others created the “Do You Know Me?” Project after the abduction and murder of her cousin, Cora Jones. Rachel spent several years working at First National Bank as a teller while she continued her education at Fox Valley Technical Center. She received several associate degrees in IT and Banking. After being diagnosed with ALS in 2013, she became a self-advocate and did research for homeopathic remedies to slow or reverse the progression of the disease. She created a Facebook group called “ALS Naturally” dedicated to spreading knowledge and support to ALS patients and their caregivers. Even after death, she hopes to remain a light to the ALS community to keep fighting and researching. Rachel’s deepest wishes were for everyone to come to know the Lord and accept Jesus into their lives and to find a cure for ALS. The family is extremely grateful for all the love and support by caregivers, family, and friends that was shown to Rachel and her family throughout her struggle.
Rachel is survived by her two daughters, Crystal Lambrecht (Matthew) and Emily Rebman; her mother Linda Danke; her sister Medora Magdanz (Daniel) and their children: Brooklyn, Payton, Jessica, Bethany; her brother Ted Danke (Jera) and their children: Anthony, Andrew, Rabecka, Erian, Bryanna, Caragan, and Clairyssa; her sister Molly Suehs (Ryan) and their children: Parker, Coralie, and Jordy. Rachel is preceded in death by her father Alan Danke, and nephew, Jacob Magdanz.
It was Rachel’s wish to have a Packer party at her visitation. Please wear your Packer attire to her visitation on Monday, July 9, 2018 at The Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca from 5-8 p.m. Friends may call on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at Emmaus Lutheran Church 9 a.m. until time of service beginning at 11 a.m.
After her diagnosis, Rachel told her mom, “I’m not afraid to die, not one iota. I’ll exhale on earth and inhale in heaven.”