Racheal Awul Kur

In Loving Memory of Racheal Awul Kur -

At the break of dawn on January 21, 1998, in the heart of Ethiopia, a light entered the world—gentle, radiant, and full of promise. That light was Racheal Awul Kur, the beloved daughter of Rebecca Lueth and Kur Angeth. From the very beginning, Racheal carried within her a quiet strength and an unshakable grace that would guide her journey through life.

Racheal spent her early childhood in the northern neighborhoods of Chicago, where her laughter echoed through city blocks and her warmth softened even the hardest days. In the fifth grade, she and her family made a new home in Des Moines, Iowa. Though the streets changed, her spirit never did—kind, compassionate, and deeply loving, no matter where she stood.

She graduated from Valley High School in 2016, a proud moment for a girl who never stopped pushing forward—even when life gave her every reason to give up. Racheal was a fighter. Not the kind that shouts or demands, but the kind who battles silently, carrying others while quietly enduring her own storms. Even in her darkest hours—when sadness and loneliness crept into her days—she still found ways to give. She would take off her coat, offer her last dime, or lend her shoulder to anyone who needed it. That was Racheal—selfless to her core.

Racheal had a gift. A sacred ability to bring people together, to remind us of love even when we had forgotten. She held space for others in a way that made you feel seen, safe, and understood. Her soul was soft, her heart wide open. She did not need grand gestures to prove her worth; her existence alone was a quiet miracle.

Beyond being a daughter and sister, Racheal was a mother—fiercely devoted, endlessly loving. Her two beautiful children, Nylan Akon Mayan and Josiah Barjolo, were her heart. She poured herself into them with the same gentleness and strength that defined her life. Her love for them was deep and pure, a part of her legacy that will live on forever.

Racheal is survived by her sister Martha Kur, and her siblings Mayan Kelei, Reech Kelei, and Lueth Kelei. Each of them carries a piece of her light within them. And most tenderly, she is survived by her childrens, Nylan and Josiah—her greatest joys, her lasting imprint on this world.

Today, we mourn not just the loss of a sister, a daughter, a friend, and a mother—but the loss of a light that lit up so many hearts. But even as we say goodbye, we carry her within us. Racheal’s love does not end here. It lives on in every act of kindness, every smile offered to a stranger, every moment of compassion we extend to one another.

This is not a goodbye, sweet Racheal. This is a see-you-later. Your love will echo forever.