Margaret Rahmann Obituary

Rahmann, Margaret Shattuck

Margaret Shattuck Rahmann, affectionately known to friends and family as Pat, left this world peacefully on July 10, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois, at age 91. She was born December 12, 1929 at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC to Marion Ely Goodwyn and Colonel Milton Cogswell Shattuck. Pat was full of stories, enjoyed playful antics, and had a love for military life. Being in a military family, Pat's childhood was defined by the many places she lived including Hawaii, South Carolina, Kansas, Montana, Alaska, Georgia, Japan, and Maine. Pat left home in 1950 and went to California where she worked as a librarian at Fort Ord in Monterey. She met the love of her life, John Rahmann, an army man, loyal and courageous in his career, and devoted to his wife and family. After John returned from the Korean War they married in 1954.

Pat loved the arts. She was a storyteller, a prize winning writer of fiction, poetry, and plays. Her work appeared in numerous literary magazines including Kansas Quarterly, The Transatlantic Review, Other Voices, and the New York Times. Her plays were published by Samuel French/Baker's as well as produced in Chicago and New York. Her poetry was read on NPR's All Things Considered. Pat's writing style celebrated unparalleled humor and a fine line between fiction and non-fiction. In 1992 she was a co partner in opening Books on Vernon, an independent bookstore in Glencoe, Illinois. A small theatre opened in the back of the bookstore. Today, that small theatre is a fully relocated beautiful building in Glencoe that is the renowned Writer's Theatre. She and John were instrumental in launching the theatre.

Pat had a great sense of humor, embracing the comedy, drama, and adventure of life. People who knew her wished they could have lived some of the stories she told so vividly. She will be deeply missed.

Pat is survived by her brother Milton Shattuck Jr , sister Susan Benson, three children, John Jr ( Suzette), Susan, Pamela Conant and 5 grandchildren, Rachel, Sophie, Saesha, Tyler, and Sydney. She was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, John, her sister Pamela Burleigh, and her grandson Louis Conant.

Interment and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Writer's Theatre or Smile Train.

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