Funeral services were held Thursday, June 21, at Peace United Church of Christ in Gladbrook for Raynard August Langenbau, 78, of rural Garwin. Military honors were provided by Gladbrook American Legion Post #127.
The family was assisted by Mitchell Family funeral Home of Marshalltown, 641-844-1234.
Raynard passed away at home on Saturday, June 16, 2018, surrounded by his loving family and friends.
Raynard August Langenbau was born on November 14, 1939, in rural Gladbrook. He passed away in the same house next to the room he was born in. He was the son of William and Velma (Prehn) Langenbau. Raynard attended school in the Garwin School District and graduated with the class of 1957.
In September, 1960, Raynard was united in marriage to Judith Bresnahan and they were blessed with two children, Tracy and Dale; they later divorced. He served his country honorably in the United States Coast Guard from 1957 until 1961. In December, 1974, Raynard married Phyllis Tilley. Phyllis passed away in July, 1988.
In 1995, he met Rhea Hoskins of Jefferson. They became engaged a couple of years later. And although they never married, they remained together ever since. Raynard lived and farmed in rural Gladbrook/Garwin his entire life. He always enjoyed talking to others about farming and its benefits and challenges.
He was a member of Peace United Church of Christ and the American Legion. He enjoyed volunteering for the Corn Carnival food stand and displaying his light house collection at the Collectors Fair, which stemmed from his Coast Guard days of living in and maintaining a light house for a year. He received honors for prompt performance of duty for rescuing three people from a capsized motorboat during extreme adverse conditions. He was stationed in Greenland for a time as well. He has an extensive light house collection. Tinkering with something in the shop and being around his family, especially his grandchildren, were things he enjoyed the most. He also enjoyed showing and talking about his 1917 farm home.
Left to cherish his memory are: his children Tracy (Randall) Hersom of Urbandale and Dale (Heidi) Langenbau of rural Garwin; his fiancé of 23 years, Rhea Hoskins of Jefferson; hisgrandchildren Summer (Jay) Beichley of Gladbrook, Cole, and Cooper Langenbau of Garwin, and Nate Hersom of Urbandale. Raynard’s siblings: Orlyn (Doris) Langenbau of Marshalltown, Verona (Marvin) Staker of Traer, Harvin Langenbau of Waukee, step-children, Randy (Frances) Tilley of Texas, and Sheri Aranda of Mt. Pleasant; step-grandchildren Britnee, Haylee, Adrianna, Isabel, Gaby, Shawn and Bryce; step-great-grandchildren Lexie, Lilie, and Kinlie; Rhea’s children Rhonda (Kurt) Oathout of Jefferson, Roxanne (Jeff) Gorsuch of Jefferson; Rhea’s grandchildren Angie (Mike) Healy and their daughter, Haddie, of Jefferson, Otto (Rachel Johnson) Oathout of Jefferson, Mark (Stephanie Morlan) Gorsuch of West Des Moines, and Mitchell Gorsuch of Jefferson.
Preceding him in death were his parents, William and Velma Langenbau, his second wife, Phyllis Langenbau, and his sister, Euna Christensen.
