Rev. Stephen Rankin

1922 - 2014

Rankin, Rev. Stephen W.

Rev. Stephen William Rankin, age 92, died on Tuesday Dec. 16, 2014 at Evergreen Retirement Community, Oshkosh, WI. He was born January 27, 1922, on the family farm in the Town of Lisbon, Waukesha County, WI, a son of the late Stanley and Adena (Meissner) Rankin. Steve married Ruth E Mauer of Fennimore, WI on July 10, 1947, who survives him.

Stephen attended a one room school the first six years of his education and graduated from the Sussex School 10th grade in 1938. Steve attended Waukesha and Pewaukee High Schools and graduated from the Pewaukee High school in 1940. Steve was a farm hand until 1942 when he was accepted at Monmouth College, Monmouth Illinois where he attended for one year. He volunteered for service in the Army Air Corp and became a WWII B-24 co-pilot in the 380th bomb group "The Flying Circus" 531st Squadron. Steve flew more than 35 missions over Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, and Japan, and had the dubious honor of flying the last mission of the 380th bomb group before the Japanese surrender was signed in August 1945. Steve went to the University of Wisconsin Madison on the GI bill and was a member of the fraternity Alpha Gamma RHO. He earned a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) in 1948 and worked at Purity Cheese in Mayville before he was called into the Ministry in 1950. While attending Garrett Seminary at Northwestern University he served the Methodist Church in Almond. Steve received his Bachelor of Divinity in 1953 and was ordained into the Methodist Church in 1953. Steve served at the following Methodist churches in Wisconsin: Almond 1950 - 1954, Columbus 1954-1957, Wesley Methodist in Sheboygan 1957 -1961, Cargill Methodist in Janesville 1961 -1966 and First United Methodist in Oshkosh 1966 to 1985. While serving at the Janesville church he earned his masters degree in history at the University of Wisconsin Madison. In his retirement Steve served as a County Supervisor on the Winnebago County Board for fourteen years. Steve was very active throughout his life in his community serving on many boards including Rock County Mental Health Assc., Evergreen Manor Executive Board, Advisory Board for the Oshkosh Boys Club, Board of Directors for the Oshkosh YMCA, Omro Parks Committee, United Way and served as a docent at the EAA's Air Adventure Museum. Steve was also the President of the East WI Conference Pension Trust for thirty years.

In addition to his wife, survivors include: Children; Rachel Ellen Rankin New York, NY; Stephen Gregory Rankin and daughter-in-law Margery (Kretzmann) Rankin Deerbrook, WI; Grandchildren; Stephen Edward Rankin Marshall, WI; Adena Rankin Rottinger Marshall, WI and Son-in-law Daniel Rottinger Marshall, WI; Great Grandchildren; Lillian Elizabeth Rottinger, Gregory Daniel Rottinger Marshall, WI; Siblings; Marjorie Rankin Schlei Oconomowoc, WI; Adena Rankin Schlei Pewaukee, WI; Martha Rankin Page - Elkhorn, WI; Sister-in-law Mahala Rankin Pewaukee, WI; Brother-in-law Robert Schlei Pewaukee, WI; Sister-in-law Grace Luhman Oshkosh, WI; Sister-in-law Ann Mauer Eau Claire, WI; Brother-in-law Lloyd Mauer Eau Claire, WI; He was preceded in death by his parents Stanley and Adena Rankin, sister Helen Rankin Lyon, brother Gordon Rankin, brother-in-law John Lyon, brother-in-law Ken Schlei, brother-in-law Dean Page, and brother-in-law Burt Luhman, also by Nephews; Paul Rankin, John W Lyon, and Steve Mauer.

Visitation will be 9:00am to 11:00am with a memorial service at 11:00am Saturday January 10th, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church, 700 West Linwood Ave Oshkosh 54901. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church Oshkosh or Evergreen Retirement Community.