Rachel Marie Streib

Rachel Marie Streib, 91, passed away peacefully Friday, October 21, 2011 at John Knox Village Hospice House with her daughter, Laurie, and son-in-law, Steve, at her side.
Rachel was born on the family farm in Clinton County, IA to Alva Mahon and Louise Dorothea (Feddersen) Crapser on June 30, 1920. She graduated Clinton High School in 1937 and the Univ. of Iowa with a B.A. in History and French in 1941 where she received her Phi Beta Kappa key for academic excellence. She received her Masters and Ph.D. in Psychology from the Univ. of Kansas in the 1970’s. In 1985 Rachel was appointed to “The Attorney General’s Task Force on Missing and Exploited Children” for the state of Kansas.
She married William (Bill) F. Streib, in 1941. While Bill served as a 1st Lt. in the Navy on a minesweeper in the South Pacific during WWII, Rachel taught in a 1 room schoolhouse in Lost Nation, IA. After the war they settled in Clinton, IA where their children, Laurie and Larry, were born. Bill worked as an accountant for DuPont and Rachel was a homemaker returning to teaching once the kids were in school. In 1958 they were transferred by DuPont to KS and lived in Lawrence for many years. They loved the Lawrence community and the many opportunities it offered. Rachel and Bill divorced in 1969 but remained close friends until his death in 1999. Many might be surprised at their continued relationship but family members and close friends weren’t. They were exceptional individuals and their life-long bond cannot be appreciated enough by their children, grandchildren and others who loved them both.
Rachel retired from her Child Psychology practice in 1986. Upon retirement Rachel was able to spend more time on those “fun things” she always enjoyed. She spent time with her grandchildren, JoAnne and Trent, which was very special to all three. She joined the Senior Barn Players and absolutely loved the time she spent with her new friends practicing and giving plays to various organizations in the area. She established a “Play Readers Group” after realizing some of the members weren’t able to remember lines in their older years. Rachel was the Social Chairman of the Grammercy Park Townhouse Community and continued in that role when she moved to John Knox Village in 1996. There she met Stan Wise, a wonderful friend and companion, who was “adopted” by her entire family including Steve’s parents, Joe and Doreen Evans. He had the same vim and vigor Rachel had and they spent their time going to dances, plays, concerts and family events. With her progressive dementia it became difficult to communicate with Rachel but he was always there with her favorite candy or “near beer” until his death in 2006.
Mom, grandmother, aunt, cousin, friend, child advocate, organizer, Rachel will be missed dearly and remain forever in our hearts and in our memories. She was an amazing person who valued her family and friends much more than her “career,” even though she helped countless numbers of children live better lives because of her efforts.
Rachel was predeceased by her parents, sister, Lois Thor, 2 infant daughters, Helen and Julia, best friend, Bill Streib and her dear friends, Don and Jane Flessing and Stan Wise. She is survived by her daughter, Laurie, and son-in-law, Steve Evans, Peculiar, Mo, her son, Larry and daughter-in-law, Kathy, Delray Beach, FL, Laurie’s son, Trent Reeder (Kelsey), Hesperus, CO, Larry’s daughter JoAnne Bowden (Scott), Omaha, NE, Steve’s sons Philip (Tammy), Greenwood, MO, and Kyle, Lee’s Summit, MO, and 3 great-granddaughters and 5 great-grandsons along with several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Rachel’s caregivers through her nearly 9 years at the John Knox Village Care Center and the staff of the JKV Hospice, who all helped make her last years, hours and minutes so comfortable and peaceful. In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcomed to the John Knox Village Hospice, 400 NW Murray Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64081, in the name of Rachel Streib.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, Oct. 28, 2011 at the John Knox Village Chapel, 400 NW Murray Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 (corner of Murray and O’Brien). A family service will be held next Spring at the Elvira, IA cemetery.
See you later, Alligator!
Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home, 115 SW 3rd St. Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 816-524-3700