Guinevere C "Gwen" Rabenberg

On September 7, 2025 Guinevere (Gwen) Cantonwine Rabenberg, beloved wife, loving mother and adoring grandmother, passed away peacefully at Spurgeon Manor and entered the gates of heaven. She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 65 years, Harvey John Rabenberg of Grundy Center, Iowa and survived by her three daughters, Toni Newton, Cindi Foster, and Kristi Rabenberg, sons-in-law Mark Newton and Miles Kilcoin and her four granddaughters Madison, Morgan, Molly and Meghan.

Born during a blizzard on April 7, 1928, Gwen was the only child of schoolteacher, Cecil Margaret (nee Donaldson) Cantonwine and farmer, Clell Cecil Cantonwine of Vinton, Iowa who instilled in their daughter a kind and gentle disposition. Her early childhood years were idyllically spent on the family farm in Vinton near the Cedar River where she experienced many happy hours with her horses, ponies and medley of farm animals as playmates. She passed her time prolifically reading, learning piano from her mother, pursuing art and dance classes and embarking upon interesting road trips with her parents.

In 1949, Gwen moved to Des Moines to attend the American Institute of Business. It was there that she met her future husband. The couple was married in June 1951 and began their life together in Des Moines where they spent nearly the entire length of their marriage. Gwen's early professional life was primarily in the banking business and eventually she worked for many years at Equitable Life as an executive assistant. During those busy years of career and child rearing, she enjoyed summer family trips to Bay Lake in northern Minnesota, weekend picnics at Jester Park, and Memorial Day gatherings with cousins. In later years, after both Harvey and Gwen had retired, they experienced exciting trips to Glacier Bay Alaska, the Panama Canal, and multiple road trips around the United States that brought them to far flung places across the country.

Gwen was an exceptionally sweet-tempered person who was distinguished by a lifelong positive outlook and warmhearted kindness matched by a dazzling smile that exuded friendliness to all. She lovingly raised her daughters with high expectations for educational attainment, politeness, and good manners. Her life's legacy is the example she set through her gentle disposition and cheerful positivity that uplifted those who came to know her. The world is truly a better place for having had Guinevere Cantonwine Rabenberg in it. The extinguishing of her light will be deeply, profoundly and mournfully felt. God bless you, Mom. We will miss you dearly but are happy knowing that you are back in the loving embrace with Dad and grandma and grandpa again.

Friends are welcome for a visitation from 10:00-11:30 am on Thursday, September 11th at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4114 Allison Avenue with the funeral service immediately following at 11:30 at the church. Lunch will be served afterwards. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at the Iowa Veteran's Cemetery, near Van Meter, Iowa on Friday, September 12th at 9:30 am. The family suggests memorial remembrances be directed to Spurgeon Manor (Non-Profit Endowment Fund) at 1204 Linden Street, Dallas Center, Iowa 50063 or Westminster Church, 4114 Allison Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50310.

Arrangements by Iles Westover Chapel.