Patricia (Gowey) Raab, who in the 1980s served as managing editor of the (Cedarburg) News Graphic Pilot, died Thursday, Jan. 6. She was 85.
Born Dec. 2, 1936, in Marshfield, she was the daughter of Ruth and Hartlan Gowey. The second-oldest of seven children, she attended Marquette University and graduated in 1958 with her journalism degree.
While at Marquette, she met and married her future husband, William “Bill” Raab. They were married Aug. 26, 1956, and together they had six children, 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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Raab started her journalism career as a columnist for the Peoria (Ill.) Heights Herald. Following moves to Texas and then back to Wisconsin, the Raabs settled in Cedarburg in 1971, and she worked in publishing for several years.
In 1979, Raab joined the Port Washington Pilot as a reporter. Following a merger with the (Cedarburg) News Graphic, she went on to be named managing editor of the News Graphic Pilot. Raab held the role until 1985, when she moved to Naperville, Ill., due to a job change for her husband.
While in Illinois, Raab worked at The Naperville Sun and later served as editor of the Lisle (Ill.) Sun. The couple returned to Ozaukee County in 1992, and Raab spent time as night editor for The Milwaukee Journal before rejoining the News Graphic as a staff writer.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 28, with visitation to begin at 11:30 a.m. at St. Francis Borgia North Catholic Church in Cedarburg. Mass will follow at 1 p.m.
