Kay Janice Rabe

Kay Janice (Karnes) Rabe, 81, of Topeka, passed away on August 9th, 2018 at the House at Midland Care surrounded by her family.

She was born in Topeka, Kansas on October 29, 1936 the daughter of Orville and Elsie (Gilliland) Karnes.  Kay was a 1954 graduate of Topeka High School.

Kay was a retired service representative for AT&T in Topeka and for Mountain Bell in Colorado.

She enjoyed cooking, crocheting, traveling, watching KU Basketball, shopping, antiquing, going to auctions and listening to music especially Frank Sinatra.  Kay’s family and her church were the most important to her.

She was a member of St. Joseph Church and had been a volunteer for the Treasures of the Czar.  She had a love of reading and enjoyed mysteries and anything about history.

Kay married Robert Rabe at St. Joseph Church on April 30, 1955.  They later divorced and he preceded her in death.  She is survived by their children, Christopher Lee (Janann) Rabe of Highlands Ranch, CO, Nancy (Tom) Little of Topeka, three grandchildren, Christopher Matthew (Jennifer) Rabe of Johnstown, CO, Sean Michael Rabe of Berthod, CO, Catherine Elizabeth Little of Topeka and two great grandchildren, Barrett Matthew and Charlotte Mae Rabe.  She is also survived by her companion Charlie Rabe, her siblings, Eleanor Bennett of St. Joseph, MO, and Gerald “Jerry” Karnes of Henderson, Nevada and many nieces and nephews.

Kay will lie in state at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Friday after 2:00 p.m. where the family will receive friends from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. and a Parish Rosary will be prayed at 5:30 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church.  Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to St. Joseph Renovation Project or Midland Hospice Care and sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka, Kansas  66603.

Online condolences and fond memories may be left at www.brennanmathenafh.com.