Raphael Marie Rotgers

Raphael (Rae) Marie Rotgers, 92, went to be with Jesus on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 surrounded by her loving family at Lakeland Medical Center. A graveside service will take place at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice at Home and the Fairplain Presbyterian Church in Benton Harbor which she attended. Those wishing to leave a condolence may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com.   Raphael was born May 3, 1924 in Somerset, PA; the youngest child of Otis and Zella McBeth. Rae worked as a secretary at Cramer Aviation Center, Lakeland Medical Center and I & M Electric Company. Rae’s secretarial skills were bar none and her attention to detail in all areas of life were impeccable. She attended several secretarial schools in Pennsylvania and Florida areas. The lost art of short hand and typing was something that Rae used and treasured everyday even up until her death. Rae was always the one to remember everyone’s special days of celebration whether it be birthdays or anniversaries and would go out of her way to make those special. She loved to entertain her family and friends with elegant details to the table and food. It made her happy serving others whether it was telling her family “you don’t like my cooking” coaxing them into a third helping with a smile, making handmade afghans for her grandchildren, or later in life serving as a Steven Minister. Rae valued family and the Lord and lived her entire life demonstrating the importance to both. Rae was ready to go Home with her Lord and Savior and we will picture her waving to us until we meet again.  Rae leaves behind three sons: Eugene “Chip” (Linda) Cramer of Stevensville, Kim (Becky) Cramer of Elkhart, IN, Kurt (Sandy) Cramer of Watervliet; step son Bill (Alicia) Rotgers of Kalamazoo; fourteen grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.  She was preceded by her parents, first husband Eugene Cramer Sr., second husband Fred Rotgers and her four siblings.