Francis Joseph Rabaey

Mass of Christian Burial for Francis Rabaey will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 26, 2024, at St. Edward Catholic Church in Minneota. Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the church, with a rosary at 4:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service. Interment with military honors will take place following the service at St. Edward Catholic Cemetery.

Francis Joseph Rabaey , age 91 of Taunton, passed away on August 20, 2024, at the Clarkfield Care Center in Clarkfield. He was surrounded in love by his wife and family. 

Francis Joseph Rabaey was born on September 1, 1932, to Alfred Albert and Irene Marie Waeyaert Rabaey on their farm in Eidsvold Township, Lyon County, MN. He attended first grade in Taunton, MN, transferred to St. Edward Catholic School in Minneota, and in 1950 graduated with 19 other students from Minneota Public High School. After graduation, he farmed with his father, Alfred, and his brother, Joseph, for two years before enlisting in the United States Navy in 1952. During the Korean Conflict and the Cold War, Francis served on two submarines, the USS Sea Owl and USS Torsk, and in 1956 received an honorable discharge as a Torpedoman’s Mate Second Class. Upon returning home to Minneota, he resumed farming with his father and brother outside of Taunton. On September 13, 1958, Francis and Grace Ann Heaton were married in St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Canby, MN. After settling on the farmstead where they lived for over fifty years, Francis and Grace raised seven children while farming grain crops and raising hogs, beef cattle, chickens, a few good dogs, and an endless supply of farm cats. 

Francis was passionate about his Catholic faith. As a member of St. Edward Catholic Church in Minneota, he served on the St. Edward Parish Council, the St. Edward School Education Committee, and was a Church Trustee for ten years. As an active member of the farming community, Francis served on the Lincoln County FmHA committee, the Lyon County 4-H Advisory board, and as a lifelong farmer, he partnered with his brother Joseph, and then later with his nephew Fred. As Francis and Grace eased into retirement, they began to travel, spending their winters in Arizona and Texas, and summers at their lake cabin on East Battle Lake, MN with family, grandchildren, and friends. Francis and Grace twice visited Europe, where Francis’s parents were born, and became acquainted with his cousins in Belgium. Francis used his computer skills to compile a detailed family history, and to connect with former shipmates from his time in the US Navy. He and Grace attended many Navy ship reunions and Submarine Veteran National Conventions. Francis was always interested in meeting new people and visiting new places, and over the course of his life, visited all 50 states, including many countries and islands during his Navy service. A life member of the Taunton American Legion Post 604 and the United States Submarine Veterans and qualified 70 years in the Holland Club (an exclusive group within the US submarine veterans organization). 

Francis enjoyed puzzles, card games, crosswords, and loved playing his solitaire game. He is survived by his wife, Grace who on September 13, 2023 they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with their family and friends. Together they had seven children: Carolyn (and Clay) Epstein of San Antonio, TX, Gregory (and Pam) Rabaey of Round Rock, TX, David (and Violet) Rabaey of New London, WI, Elizabeth Rabaey of Austin, TX, Thomas (and Julie) Rabaey of LeSueur, MN, Leann Rabaey (and Shawn Enderlin) of Minneapolis, MN and Rachel Rabaey of Brooklyn, NY; ten grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins in Belgium, and many friends. Francis is preceded in death by his parents Alfred and Irene, and brother, Joseph, and sisters Mary Tillemans and Geraldine Green, and three nephews. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to St. Edward School: https://www.osvhub.com/st-eds-church/giving/funds