A Memorial Funeral Service for Annie Rosie (Brinkman) Rathjen, 89, of Caldwell was held at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Frenstat with Deacon John Young, on Monday, August 1, 2022. Visitation began at 10 a.m. The reciting of the Holy Rosary followed at 10:40 a.m., and service began at 11 a.m.
Annie passed away July 25, 2022. She was born on June 19, 1933, to Henry August Brinkman and Milady Judy (Popek) Brinkman in the Birch community of Burleson County, Texas.
Mrs. Rathjen lived in Burleson County all her life.
She was a homemaker and a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church and the Altar Society member.
She attended school in Birch as long as she could.
Annie met the love of her life, Alphine C. Rathjen, who was then drafted into the Army. She waited two years and upon his release they were married April 11, 1953.
Mrs. Rathjen was a quilt maker and made quilts for all grandchildren and great-grandchildren with love in every stitch and probably a prayer or two.
She prayed the Rosary daily and a Rosary could be found in every room of her house.
Annie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, A.C. Rathjen; sonin-law, William Sowders; grandson, Jordan Rathjen; great-grandson, Tobias Calhoun; brothers, Aldie Brinkman and Stanley Brinkman; sisters, Evelyn Kosh and husband, Freddie, Henrietta Kazmir-Hein and husband, Raymond, Georgia Shaver and husband, Clyde; and her brother-in-law, Otis Klagman.
She is survived by daughter, Virginia Ann Sowders; sons, Darrell Joseph Rathjen and wife, Nola, Darwon Lewis Rathjen and wife, Connie, and Glen Rathjen; her sister, Joan Klagman; brother, Henry Brinkman and wife, Billie; and sister-in-law, Bernice Brinkman. She also has 14 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way; and a great-great-grandchild coming in the fall.
Pallbearers included her grandsons, Billy Sowders, Alan Rathjen, Trevor Rathjen, Austin Rathjen, Derek Cotton, Garrett Rathjen, Preston Sprouse, Ryan Broaddus, and Payton Sprouse.
Any memorials may go to: Holy Rosary Altar Society
Arrangements have been entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home. They invite you to visit their website at www. stricklandfuneralhomes. com and sign the online register book.