Former New Bremen resident Valentin Hanno Rabe, 78, of Geneseo, N.Y., died Nov. 29, 2008, at his residence.

He was born Jan. 30, 1930, in Hanover, Germany, to Dr. Michael and Margarete Beer Rabe. His wife, Susan Schulenberg Rabe, survives in Geneseo.

Other survivors are his four children, Anne, Castleton, N.Y., Matthew (Terri), Lexington, S.C., Callie, Lima, N.Y., Margaret (Barry) Stemper, South Deerfield, Mass.; a brother, Andreas (Suzanna), Columbus; and four grandchildren.

He was 10 years old when his family immigrated to the U.S. and settled in New Bremen. He graduated from Cranbrook School, Bloomfield, Mich., in 1949 and received his bachelor of arts degree from Tufts College and his master's and doctorate degrees in history from Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He taught at Drexel Institute of Technology, Philadelphia, Pa., and at SUNY Geneseo. He was active in United University Professions and was a statewide academic delegate for almost two decades. In his retirement, he served on the board of the Livingston County Historical Society.

A memorial service was held on Dec. 14 in Geneseo, N.Y. Private burial will be in the German Protestant Cemetery, New Bremen.

Contributions can be made to the Livingston County Historical Society, Geneseo, N.Y., or the Southern Poverty Law Center, Montgomery, Ala.

Arrangements are being handled by Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home, New Bremen.