Pat Rahija

Patricia "Pat" A. Rahija, nee Wilson, age 83 of Kansas City, Kansas died peacefully in her home on Friday, December 26th. Jim Rahija, her beloved husband of 63 years, was at her side, as well as additional family and friends. Her kind and open heart, warm smile, and giving spirit will remain in our hearts forever.

A lifelong extrovert, Pat enjoyed opening her home to family, friends, and her community at large. She was a proud and compassionate mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and was willing to take on one of these roles for just about anyone that walked through the front door. Pat enjoyed problem solving in every sense, whether it was sudoku, fitting extra chairs in at the dining room table, or figuring out how to beat her husband in a game of jokers.

Pat's career accomplishments reflect an ambitious and dedicated woman. Her first job was at the Baker Shoe Store, where she may have ended up spending more money than she made, a move that marked the beginning of a lifelong penchant for shoes. Pat started a career in banking that began with secretarial work and culminated in her promotion to Assistant Vice President of Home State Bank. Later, Pat brought her administrative prowess to the office of the former U.S. Representative Jan Meyers in 1987. For eight years, she handled the calls of constituents and dealt with complaints with her usual goal-oriented finesse. Following Meyers' retirement in 1995, Pat was appointed as the Wyandotte County election commissioner, a career that allowed her to include her community in her passion for democracy. During her tenure, she oversaw the transition from 1880s-era lever voting machines to electronic machines in the early 2000s, a monumental task that Pat handled with thoughtful precision. In the words of her husband, Jim, "you let her get on a project, and you better hit the ground running or get out of the way."

In addition to her remarkable career, Pat's life was marked by her volunteer service and charitable spirit. Her time was spent on (almost countless) organizations such as Kaw Valley March of Dimes, KCK Friends of the Philharmonic, Grinter Place Friends, Taxpayers Protection Association, Pilot Club, KCK Women's Chamber of Commerce, Beta Sigma Phi, and myriad Parent Teacher Association positions. Her time was her greatest resource, and she refused to waste a second of it.

Pat's support system outside of her robust career started just down the street from her childhood home, where she met "Jimmy" Rahija in second grade. The two stuck together through grade school and into high school, where Pat was an actively involved student, a letter girl, and a member of the National Honors Society. Jim and Pat were engaged and married within a year of their high school graduation, on February 18th, 1962. The couple stayed in Wyandotte County, moving into a home in their childhood neighborhood, where they later welcomed their two children, Tim and DeAnn. The family enjoyed an active church life, neighborhood picnics, and often went camping (something that Pat tolerated with a smile on her face, a clear mark of her selflessness and love for her children).

Pat is survived by her husband, Jim Rahija, of Kansas City, KS; son Tim Rahija of Tucson, AZ, daughter-in-law Peggy Rahija of Kansas City, KS, and their children, James "JT", Cynthia and her partner Ben Brundgardt, and their child Sylvester Brungardt, Jonathan, and Tyler Lukens, all of Kansas City, KS; daughter DeAnn Bingaman, nee Rahija, and her husband Scott Bingaman of St. Louis, MO, and their children, Nathan of Ft. Irwin, CA, and Erin of Durham, NC.

If you knew Pat, you knew of her proclivity for inclusivity. She is also survived by her bonus family; Linda Langer and her husband Stew Langer, and their children Hunter, Greyson, and Claire; and Joe Masters and his wife Amber Masters, and their children, Emma, Caleigh, Brooklyn, and Sawyer, all of Kansas City.

The family will host a Celebration of Life on March 7th at Fellowship West, 12320 Parallel Pkwy, Kansas City, KS, 66109. Visitation at 10 AM, service at 11 AM with a light lunch to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the University of Kansas Medical Center for Alzheimer's Research or the Alzheimer's Association. On a final note, we want to thank ACG Hospice and Pat's amazing caregivers, Randi and Amanda, for their loving care and support.