A well known Stawell footballing family has lost one of its finest members with the passing of Pat Rathgeber in August.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Rathgeber, aged 87, died peacefully on Saturday, August 7, 2021 in Stawell.
Rathgeber was born on April 22, 1934 in Stawell to Anthony and Margaret Rathgeber and was the youngest of seven children, Mary, Jim, Bet, Jack, Margaret, and Bill.
In 1941 he married Hilda (Bub) Rathgeber and together had five children, Danny, Vincent, Michael, Bernard and Paula
Rathgeber played 77 games with the Stawell Football Club alongside brothers Jack and Bill.
In 1954 Pat Rathgeber came second in the Stawell F.C best and fairest award, with Jack claiming the win.
READ MORE:
Pat was unlucky with injury that season and played just nine games, but still finished second in the count.
Pat was often unlucky with injuries during his career, scoring seven broken bones across his six years with the Stawell F.C.
Such were the Rathgeber's football talents, South Melbourne player, Rupanyup product and 1953 Toohey Medallist Jim Gull described the brothers as "brilliant footballers who played the game hard but fair and were always good mates".
Rathgeber worked proudly with his brothers at AR Rathgeber and Sons Plastering business until retirement.
Rathgeber's nephew Shane Rathgeber said he remembers his uncle fondly.
"I worked with him for 30 years so my memories are very strong," he said.
"He was a very close friend of my old man, they were as thick as thick, and so my memories are very fond.
"He was a good bloke and a good uncle.
OTHER NEWS:
Shane Rathgeber continued on the family name, by playing with Stawell himself.
"I played there all the way through from juniors, it was just the done thing," he said.
"Some of those things mean a lot to you and for the name and all that type of thing."
The Stawell Warriors acknowledged the passing of Pat throughout the week.
A funeral service for Pat Rathgeber was held on Wednesday.
If you can see this message, you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Stawell Times-News, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and for allowing us to continue telling Stawell's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great town.
