Rachel Wilbourn, 46

Rachel L. Wilbourn, age 46, passed away on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, after a courageous and hard-fought 10-year battle with breast cancer. Rachel was born in Sturgis on November 9, 1978. She graduated from Burr Oak High School in 1997 where she was also prom queen. Rachel earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Western Michigan University. She had a successful career in accounting & finance, mostly with Eaton Corporation in Marshall. She later worked as a financial consultant and most recently served as the Controller for Gun Lake Investments.

Rachel met her loving husband Kevin through work. They started dating in October of 2004 and were married in August 2010 on Mackinac Island. Always by her side, Kevin supported Rachel as a devoted and affectionate partner and fierce advocate during her cancer battle.

Rachel was a kind soul with a grateful heart. She was a devoted daughter, sister, niece and aunt. People were by far the most important thing to her. She cherished spending time with family and friends; especially shopping trips. Rachel thoroughly enjoyed giving gifts or sentimental notes that she put a lot of thought and effort into. She was always active and kept herself extremely fit, including running numerous marathons, training at the gym, and doing CrossFit. She loved crafting and scrapbooking, attending live shows and musicals, and was always a loyal and proud Detroit Lions fan. Music was a big part of her life, as there always had to be music playing no matter where she was. Rachel also enjoyed traveling and seeing new places. Over the years she and Kevin had the opportunity to visit Alaska, Hawaii, all the National Parks in Utah, the U.P. of Michigan, and countless trips back to Mackinac Island. For the last eight years they were blessed to be able to spend a significant amount of time at their place up at Silver Lake during the summers, which became her sanctity.

In addition to Kevin, she is survived by her mother, Barbara Holzaepfel; father, Jon (Marjie) Ritter; sister, Erin Ritter; step-sisters, Anissa Radley-Long and Angela (Steve) Pattullo; half-sister, Nicki Stacey; father and mother in-law, Dwight and Karen Wilbourn; sister in-law, Jennifer (Ryan) Ball; aunt, Cheryl (Annette) Applewood, six nieces and nephews, and numerous friends.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 24 at 11:00 AM at Kempf Family Funeral & Cremation Services, 723 US Hwy 27 North Marshall, MI 49068, with Pastor Scott Marsh officiating. Interment will take place at Lyon Lake Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, March 23, 2025 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM and one hour prior to the service on Monday, March 24 beginning at 10:00 AM. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Friends and family may share a memory or leave a condolence message at www.kempffuneralhome.com. Arrangements entrusted to: Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services of Marshall, Michigan – 269-781-9858