Obituary of Deb A. Rathgeb

Debora A. (Burns) Rathgeb passed away Friday December 23, 2022 at home with her husband Dave by her side. Deb was born in Carlinville on November 9, 1957 the daughter of John and Theresa (Costello) Burns. Deb married Dave Rathgeb on March 16, 1984 and they have enjoyed 38 plus years together. As an only child Deb became an excellent cook early on as she prepared meals for her two working parents. Deb graduated from Carlinville High School with the class of 1975 and immediately began her 47year working career. She started at the Carlinville Democrat Newspaper gathering advertising at various businesses, where upon a job opportunity arose at Tawfall Accounting Firm, where she worked for 18 years, then briefly at Walton Chiropractic, before moving on to Moulton-Rathgeb Equipment Co. Then in 1998 Deb was employed at Carlinville High School as study hall monitor and later added librarian assistant to her duties as well as prom coordinator. After 24 years at CHS Deb retired on November 16, 2022. Over the years Deb and Dave enjoyed cruising the waters of the Caribbean and Alaskan seas. They cruised with dear friends Jerome and Cathy Martin many times. Deb was a member of the “Sisters 75”. Monthly Deb enjoyed dining out at various restaurants from Springfield, Litchfield, Edwardsville and Carlinville with friends Cindy Stayton, Brenda Beanblossom, Alice Pressler and Vicki Burns. Over the last 24 years Deb has also enjoyed her working friends at Carlinville High School. Although Deb and Dave had no children, they had many fur babies over the years. At six years old Deb got her first dog Lady, which undoubtedly to her life long love of all animals, especially her pets. Over the years Deb much enjoyed cats Monki and Rueben, and dogs Sweetie, Maggie Mae, and Emma Lu. She is survived by two precious dogs, JoJo and Lily who she dearly loved and they loved their “Mom” also and will miss her dearly. Deceased family members are mother, Theresa (Costello) Burns, father and mother-in-law, Kenneth and Edith Rathgeb. Deb is survived by her husband Dave and father John Burns. Surviving also are many cousins of the Costello and Burns families. Judy Joiner was like a sister to her. Jon and Sara Klaus and Buck and Glenda Costello have been so helpful over the years when a hand was needed, especially near the end of her life. Dave will miss his lifetime partner dearly and is so appreciative of Deb’s loving care for him through two major surgeries in the last two years by nursing him back to health. As a testament to her love of dogs and cats, any donations in her honor should be made to Macoupin County Animal Shelter 21640 Rt.4, P. O. Box 391, Carlinville, Ill. 62626. Per Deb's request, there will be no funeral services and cremation rites were accorded. Davis-Anderson Funeral Home Carlinville is in charge of arrangements.