- Date Of Birth: April 21, 1928
- Date Of Death: February 5, 2016
- State: Idaho
Lorraine “Rainee” Agnes McNeill was born to Anthony J and Marie Heerlein in Chicago in 1928. She had one brother, Joe Heerlein, a fireman. Rainee graduated from Harper High School in Chicago.
Rainee held down some fun jobs throughout her life, most of them having some ties to her first and foremost love, art and sketching. She was employed at the telephone company, the Highway Department, and the Assessors Office. She worked at the Bench Sewer District, where she would tell stories of being privy to treasures found down in the sewers, such as beautiful rings and other trinkets.
She grew a large and wonderful family. Her four children, Creighton, Chrystine, Michael, and Joseph gave her 11 grandchildren, and 24 great grandchildren, who referred to her as, “Grandma Goose.” She loved traveling and especially enjoyed her trips to the Oregon coast with family, sharing freshly caught crab and lots of fond memories.
Rainee loved animals. She always had at least one or two, and touted the benefits of owning at least one smart rat in your life. She had a few through the years and would train them to sit on her shoulder and come when she called them. We all remember one of her most beloved and longest living pets, her golden retriever, Friday.
She loved to, “bum around,” just hitting up thrift stores and yard sales, eating lunch with friends and family, and going on short day trips. Anyone who joined her in these endeavors through the years usually caught the “bumming around,” bug. She had many talents. She was a great cook and very resourceful. She crafted and sewed and gardened. She taught herself how to play some notes on the piano, and joined her husband Don playing music at senior centers and around town.
Many of us remember Rainee most fondly for her art. She dabbled in all forms, from charcoal to acrylics, but seemed to love watercolor the most. She noticed details in imagery that others missed. She captured many family members likenesses to canvas, all of which are cherished to this day. She illustrated greeting cards, and even the cover of the menu at the Capri restaurant.
Pages could be filled with fond stories of her endeavors. She was truly enjoyed by all around her. She lived a beautiful, full life and we will all miss her light, her playfulness, her smile, and her love.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Joseph Heerlein, her son Michael McNeill, and her grandson Joseph McNeill. She is survived by husband Don Sieber, son Creighton and Cheryl McNeill, daughter Chrystine and Norman Skinner, daughter-in-law Patty McNeill, son Joseph and Leslie McNeill, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
