Brothers Paul and Ralph Rahne were best friends. They lived in Denver all their lives, played in the Highlander Boys band, graduated from North High School, went fishing together – and died of congestive heart failure Thursday, just hours apart.
Paul Rahne, 93, died at the Colorado Veterans Home at Fitzsimons, and Ralph Rahne, 91, died in Rogers, Ark., where he had moved recently to be near family.
A joint service was held Tuesday.
Their deaths are “really too tough to fathom,” said Carl Rahne of Denver, the brothers’ only other sibling. “I can’t believe it.”
“They were great guys. We had our ups and downs, but mostly ups,” he said, laughing.
The three brothers were reared in north Denver, and all were members of the Highlander Boys band, which marched in many parades.
The Highlander Boys, a quasi-military organization founded by George Olinger, was named for the Highlands area in north Denver. Paul played the trumpet, Ralph played the sax, and Carl played the drums.
“It was on the order of Boy Scouts,” said Carl Rahne, adding that the group taught junior high and high school boys Christian principles, patriotism and “gentlemanly” manners, and to “respect all women as I do my mother.”
The Highlander Boys, which have disbanded, had a building at 300 Logan St., now the location of 9News.
All three Rahne men liked to hunt and fish, and they often, with their wives, gathered for pinochle and poker games. Paul and Ralph collected beer cans and other beer paraphernalia.
The three men joined the Masonic Lodge together, and each got his 50-year pin in 1996. Also, they belonged to many of the same fraternal organizations.
The brothers loved beer, usually the darker varieties, but Paul was loyal to Pabst Blue Ribbon because he once had a job delivering it.
Paul Rahne was born July 21, 1912, and in 1936 married Ruth Baker. He went to work as a firefighter at Fitzsimons and became fire chief in 1955.
Years after the death of his first wife, he married Corinne Kennedy. She died in March.
In addition to his brother, he is survived by two daughters, Rita Kunselman of Fullerton, Calif., and Linda Miller of Aurora; a son, Paul M. Rahne; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Ralph R. Rahne was born Sept. 20, 1914. He married Rowena Hobbs, who preceded him in death. His second wife, Eva Short, also preceded him in death.
He owned Rahne Sheet Metal Co. for years. The company, located downtown on Blake Street, made metal goods – sinks, counters, gutters and other equipment – for hospitals, restaurants and institutions.
In addition to his brother, he is survived by his son, George Rahne of Rogers, Ark.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Ralph Rahne and a grandson.
Staff writer Virginia Culver can be reached at 303-820-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com.
