Obituary for Florian C. "Floyd" Rabineau
Florian “Floyd” Rabineau, 94, formerly of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, passed away on February 12, 2021 at Glenn Arbor Hospice, in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Floyd was born in Rudyard, Michigan to Joseph & Aurora Rabineau, on May 20, 1926. He married Kathleen Benoit on July 27, 1946 in Sault Ste. Marie. They were in their 75th year together, when he left to join his Heavenly Father. He worked at Crisp Laundry in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan for many years. Floyd served as the towel boy for the Detroit Red Wings at their training camps, in the late 1950s. Lefty Wilson gave him the nickname “Towely.” He was a veteran of World War II and served as a Gunner’s Mate in the United States Navy, in the South Pacific. He was involved in many community service organizations. Floyd was a member of the Michigan County Social Services Association (MCSSA) for 47 years, serving as its state president 3 times. He was also a member of the Chippewa County Mental Health Board. Floyd volunteered as a teacher’s assistant in auto mechanics evening classes, at Sault Area High School. He taught religious education classes at St. Mary’s Parish in Sault Ste. Marie, served as an Usher, and was involved in the restoration of St. Mary’s Pro- Cathedral. Floyd was instrumental in expanding Little League Baseball in Sault Ste. Marie, and he did considerable fundraising for the League. Floyd was loved by his family and many, many friends.
Floyd is survived by his loving wife of 75 years, Kathleen (Benoit) Rabineau; twin daughters Judy (Peter) Johannes of West Branch Michigan and Trudi (Patrick) Jenkins of Bristol, Tennessee; twin sons, Steven (Tracie) Rabineau of Wallingford, Vermont, and Kevin (Karen) Rabineau of Battle Creek, Michigan; his grandchildren include, Hans (Sarah) Johannes, Krista (Jerry) Pudvan, Sean (Brooke) Jenkins, Lance (Jessica) Jenkins, Andrea Rabineau, Lisa (Kasey) Palmer, and Christopher (Kendra) Rabineau; great grandchildren, Reaghan & Dillon Jenkins, Madelynn Johannes, Jerry Pudvan, Isabella, Liam & Fiona Palmer who all dearly loved “Papa Floyd” and one sibling, his older brother Ernest Rabineau. Floyd is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Aurora Rabineau; stepfather, Bill Monteney; grandson, Michael Rabineau; brothers, Harrison, Arthur, Henry, Albert, David, infant brother Omer and sisters, Rose Taipala, Ubalda Black, Ida Walker, and Velma Rabineau. He is also survived by many dearly loved nieces and nephews.
The family of Floyd Rabineau wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses at the V.A. Medical Center, the health care workers at Bronson Hospital Battle Creek, and special thanks to the nurses at Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan and The Glenn Arbor Hospice House. We greatly appreciate Fr. Christopher Ankley for his pastoral care for Floyd and Kathleen. His kind heart and wise words prepared them both for Floyd’s journey home to Jesus.
Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 18th, 2021 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 61 N. 23rd Street, Battle Creek, MI. The Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Christopher J. Ankley officiating. Burial will follow at the Fort Custer National Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, or Glenn Arbor Hospice, in Battle Creek.
Floyd was born in Rudyard, Michigan to Joseph & Aurora Rabineau, on May 20, 1926. He married Kathleen Benoit on July 27, 1946 in Sault Ste. Marie. They were in their 75th year together, when he left to join his Heavenly Father. He worked at Crisp Laundry in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan for many years. Floyd served as the towel boy for the Detroit Red Wings at their training camps, in the late 1950s. Lefty Wilson gave him the nickname “Towely.” He was a veteran of World War II and served as a Gunner’s Mate in the United States Navy, in the South Pacific. He was involved in many community service organizations. Floyd was a member of the Michigan County Social Services Association (MCSSA) for 47 years, serving as its state president 3 times. He was also a member of the Chippewa County Mental Health Board. Floyd volunteered as a teacher’s assistant in auto mechanics evening classes, at Sault Area High School. He taught religious education classes at St. Mary’s Parish in Sault Ste. Marie, served as an Usher, and was involved in the restoration of St. Mary’s Pro- Cathedral. Floyd was instrumental in expanding Little League Baseball in Sault Ste. Marie, and he did considerable fundraising for the League. Floyd was loved by his family and many, many friends.
Floyd is survived by his loving wife of 75 years, Kathleen (Benoit) Rabineau; twin daughters Judy (Peter) Johannes of West Branch Michigan and Trudi (Patrick) Jenkins of Bristol, Tennessee; twin sons, Steven (Tracie) Rabineau of Wallingford, Vermont, and Kevin (Karen) Rabineau of Battle Creek, Michigan; his grandchildren include, Hans (Sarah) Johannes, Krista (Jerry) Pudvan, Sean (Brooke) Jenkins, Lance (Jessica) Jenkins, Andrea Rabineau, Lisa (Kasey) Palmer, and Christopher (Kendra) Rabineau; great grandchildren, Reaghan & Dillon Jenkins, Madelynn Johannes, Jerry Pudvan, Isabella, Liam & Fiona Palmer who all dearly loved “Papa Floyd” and one sibling, his older brother Ernest Rabineau. Floyd is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Aurora Rabineau; stepfather, Bill Monteney; grandson, Michael Rabineau; brothers, Harrison, Arthur, Henry, Albert, David, infant brother Omer and sisters, Rose Taipala, Ubalda Black, Ida Walker, and Velma Rabineau. He is also survived by many dearly loved nieces and nephews.
The family of Floyd Rabineau wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses at the V.A. Medical Center, the health care workers at Bronson Hospital Battle Creek, and special thanks to the nurses at Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan and The Glenn Arbor Hospice House. We greatly appreciate Fr. Christopher Ankley for his pastoral care for Floyd and Kathleen. His kind heart and wise words prepared them both for Floyd’s journey home to Jesus.
Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 18th, 2021 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 61 N. 23rd Street, Battle Creek, MI. The Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Christopher J. Ankley officiating. Burial will follow at the Fort Custer National Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, or Glenn Arbor Hospice, in Battle Creek.