Ralph "Hank" Rahe, 94, of Peoria, passed away Saturday, May 19, 2018 at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria. He was born Oct. 3, 1923 in Dyersville, IA, to Henry and Kathryn Rahe. He married Helen Marie McLaughlin on Dec. 28, 1946 in Cedar Rapids, IA, and she preceded him in death on July 28, 2007. He later married Loris Wilcoxen, who died in 2015. He was also preceded in death by his parents, six siblings, and one son-in-law, Mark Hardesty. Remembering him with love are his six children: Carolyn Rahe of Philadelphia, PA, Theresa Hardesty of Peoria, IL, Patricia (Ronald) Lee of Wilmette, IL, Beth (David) Balas of Bainbridge Island, WA, Joan (Chris) Metz of Indian Head Park, IL, and Stephen Rahe of Portland, OR, as well as 19 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his older brother, Norm Rahe, of Orange Co., CA, and many nieces and nephews. Hank was a WWII Army Air Corps veteran, who served in Panama as a P-39 fighter pilot. He retained his patriotism and his love of flying for the rest of his life. Following military service he earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering and worked in sales and management for Westinghouse for 40 years before retiring. After retirement he was active in his faith community in the Naperville, IL area. He lived in the Chicago suburbs for many years before moving to Peoria, where he resided for the last 11 years. Hank enjoyed vegetable gardening, fishing, and hunting, but his Catholic faith and large family were most important to him. He enjoyed travelling, and especially loved the many trips to Ireland with Helen, and one taken there with all of their children. Card games, jigsaw puzzles, and bocce ball were favorite reunion traditions of his. Trained as an engineer, it was his nature to repair or re-purpose rather than discard things, an ethic he passed along to his children and grandchildren. He inspired and supported them; his motto 'keep rowing' was a familiar refrain. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, ℅ St. Jude Catholic School, 10911 N. Knoxville Avenue, Peoria, IL 61615; or to the Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate through The Mission Auxiliary of the St. Francis de Sales Assoc., P.O. #195, Winnetka, IL, 60093, (may abbreviate to Mission Aux., SFdeS Assoc.) A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at noon on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at St. Jude Catholic Church in Peoria. Visitation will be Tuesday from 10 A.M. until noon at the church. Hank will be buried next to Helen Rahe at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Naperville Wednesday afternoon, May 23, 2018, with time to be determined. Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington, IL is in charge of arrangements.