Daniel Abraham Raber, 96, of Pampa, passed away on January 15, 2024, in Pampa.
Memorial services will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, January 27, 2024, at the Faith Bible Church of Pampa 701 S. Cuyler, Pampa, TX 79065, with his son, Craig Raber, officiating the service. A private inurnment will follow at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.
Daniel Abraham Raber, known as D.A., was born October 30, 1927, in Latham, MO, to Daniel A. and Mary Frances Raber. D.A. grew up on their family farm in nearby Versailles, MO. Life on the farm for D.A. meant working the fields and farming with his favorite horse, “Dexter”, a dapple-gray mare. He attended Versailles High School for only a year and a half. At that time, he needed to leave school and take care of the family farm because his father became unable to do the work.
Church was always an important part of his life. It was at his boyhood church, Bethel Mennonite Church, Fortuna, MO, that D.A. accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and cultivated a growing desire for the work of the ministry. In 1952 the family farm was sold, and D.A. left home to attend Hesston College in Hesston, KS. He graduated with a Bachelor of Religious Education degree in 1956. That year he also married Erma June Miller on January 15 in the Pleasant View Mennonite Church near Hydro, OK.
Following his graduation from Hesston College, he and Erma moved to Wichita, KS. There they helped plant a church in a community in the northeast part of the city. They lived in a large two-story house that served as home and church until a new church building could be built next door. It was there at 10th Street Church that D.A. was licensed and ordained for the ministry and the congregation grew to about 175 people. Their sons, Bruce and Craig, were both born during their time in Wichita.
After 5 years the family moved to the Newton area where D.A. farmsed, drove a milk truck for Steffens Dairy, and delivered feed for Walton Grain Cooperative. But his heart was still in the ministry, and on January 1, 1970, the family moved to Greensburg, KS. There he pastored the Greensburg Mennonite Church for 10 years and helped the congregation build and move into a new facility in 1978.
After raising the family in Greensburg, D.A., Erma moved to Inman, KS in January of 1981. There he pastored the Bethel Mennonite Church and ministered until he retired in 1993. They had many fond memories of their time in Inman and are thankful for those memories. Upon retirement they moved to Newton and built a home on an acreage in the country. It is now home to Zane and Sarah Raber, their grandson, and his family.
Though retired, D.A. still kept busy teaching Sunday school at First Mennonite Church in Newton, KS, serving as interim pastor at Zion Mennonite Church in Elbing, KS, and helping fill the pulpit at Central Heights Mennonite Church in Durham, KS until 2004.
After living on their small acreage in Newton for over 20 years, D.A. and Erma moved to Pampa, TX, to live with their son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Ronna Raber. There they continued to enjoy family and made many new friends in the area through attending Faith Bible Church.
D.A. said recently that the best advice he received was from his mother at an early age. “Do nothing, say nothing, or go anyplace that you would not want to be when Jesus comes”. D.A. lived his life seeking to give all glory to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and wanted others to know the joy of a life spent for Jesus.
Two of his favorite sayings were: “I know the God of the Universe will do what is right” and “It will be ‘as the Lord wills’”.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a wife, Erma; one sister, Barbara Suter; a granddaughter, Tami Thompson; a grandson, Xavier Raber; and a great-granddaughter, Jasmine Raber.
Daniel is survived by two sons, Bruce Raber and wife Lorraine of Greensburg, KS, and Craig Raber and wife Ronna of Pampa; seven grandchildren, Mike Thompson of Houston, TX, Todd Raber and wife Olga of Hollock, MN, Zach Raber of Bremerton, WA, Zane Raber and wife Sarah of Newton, KS, Erin Raber of Pampa, Kendra Jackson and husband Nathan of Meade, KS, and Luke Raber and wife Sarah of Pampa; 13 great-grandchildren, Haleigh Raber and significant other Logan Williams of Hays, KS, Jacob Raber of Bremerton, WA, Owen and Corrigan Raber, all of Newton, KS, John, Hannah, Dan, Abigail, Timothy, Silas Jackson of Meade, KS, Daniel, Ayden, and Leif Raber, all of Pampa, TX; numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family.
Memorials can be made to Faith Bible Church of Pampa, 701 S. Cuyler, Pampa, TX 79065.
Please sign the online registry at www.carmichael-whatley.com
