Cover photo for Rachel Emily Dumke's Obituary
Rachel Emily Dumke Profile Photo
1911 Rachel 2016

Rachel Emily Dumke

April 19, 1911 — August 31, 2016

Rachel Dumke, age 105, of Appleton, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 31, 2016, at Rennes Health and Rehab Center. Rachel was born in Seymour on the Tubbs family farm on April 19, 1911, to the late George and Lavina (Hahn) Tubbs, in the house that still stands on Tubbs Rd, two miles north of Seymour.

Her life was long, simple, and many times difficult. Her early years were spent on the family farm, doing chores, and assisting her mother with housework and gardening. At the age of eighteen, with the encouragement of her parents, Rachel moved to Green Bay, where she worked as a waitress at Kaap's Restaurant. It was at this time that she met and married her first husband, Peter DeMoulin, who worked as a maker of caskets. He died in 1940. They had one daughter, Betty (DeMoulin) Schubbe, who preceded her mother in death in October 5, 1987, at the age of 54. Through a neighbor, Rachel met Arthur Dumke, and they were married on September 2, 1942. Art and Rachel settled in Appleton at 321 S. Badger Ave., in a small, two-room house where their family increased to include four more children, Jim, Diane, Mary, and Carol. Clearly needing more room, they moved to 1029 W. Franklin St., where they lived for over fifty years and raised their family. Art died on May 6, 1996, at the age of 87, and Carol passed on January 31, 2010, at the age of 59. During those years Rachel created so many wonderful family memories, which included homemade bread and rolls, Sunday chicken dinners, quilts and Afghans for all her grandchildren, unforgettable Christmas Eve gatherings, and stunningly beautiful flowers in her garden, to name just a few.

Loving and serving the Lord and her family were passions in Rachel's life. She was a member of First English Lutheran Church in Appleton for 85 years, teaching Sunday school, assisting with catechism, and adding many special touches as one of the church's quilters.

Rachel is survived by one son and two daughters:

Jim (Dawn) Dumke, Perrysburg, Ohio, and their children Todd Dumke, Scott (Nancy) Dumke, Steve (Jessica) Dumke, Rachelle (Grant) Chaffee, Angela (Chris) Powell, Rebekah Dumke, Rachel Dumke, and Glorietta Dumke;

Diane McGinnis, Appleton, and her children Aaron (Allison) McGinnis, Adam McGinnis, and Sarah (Christian) Pirtle;

Mary (Terry) Maves, Appleton, and their children: Tyler (Madhurii) Maves, J. R. (Dan) Grawe, Gus (Lyndsey) Maves, Peter Maves, and Suzy (Eric) McElrath.

Rachel is also survived by the children of Betty Schubbe (deceased): Phillip Schubbe, Peter (Jackie) Schubbe, Anne (Tom) Wegge, and John (Amy) Schubbe;

Rachel has 26 great-grandchildren: Vivian Vo and Logan Dumke; Anna, Elisa, and Evan Dumke; Mason, MacKenzie, and Max Chaffee; and Toby and Troy Powell; Aiden and Asher McGinnis; Caleb and Quinn McGinnis; and Cash Pirtle; Skye and Griffin Maves; Leyla and Nolan Grawe; and Breck Maves; Morgan and Calvin Schubbe; Hope Wegge; and Sam, Charlie, and Lizzie Schubbe. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, husbands, and daughters, Rachel was preceded in death by her sister Harriet (Melvin) Marcks and her brother Vernon (Ruth) Tubbs, and by two sons-in-law, Charles McGinnis and Bernie Schubbe.

A funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6, at First English Lutheran Church, 326 E. North St., Appleton, with Rev. Mary Bauer and Rev. Dr. Jim Dumke officiating. Friends and relatives may visit directly at the church on Tuesday, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Interment

will take place at Appleton Highland Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please send your gifts to the charity of your choice or direct them to a member of the family.

The family would like to thank the staff at Rennes Health and Rehab Center for the compassionate care shown to Rachel in the last three years.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rachel Emily Dumke, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

9:00 - 11:00 am

First English Lutheran Church

326 E North St, Appleton, WI 54911

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Service

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

11:00am - 12:00 pm

First English Lutheran Church

326 E North St, Appleton, WI 54911

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 23

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree