Ralph Rausch
April 26, 1918 ~ January 30, 2012
Ralph Rausch, age 93, of New Hampton, IA, passed away on Monday, January 30, 2012 at his home. Ralph John Rausch was born on April 26, 1918 to John and Anna (Glaser) Rausch on a farm near Ionia, IA. He attended St. Mary’s School in North Washington. Ralph worked as a farm hand for a neighbor until he entered the US Army with his brother Vincent in 1942. He served during World War II in the South Pacific Theater. After their honorable discharge in 1945 Ralph and Vince started Rausch Brothers Trucking Company in Ionia. On December 29, 1947, Ralph was united in marriage to Mary Jane Goebel at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in New Hampton. After their marriage the couple made their home in New Hampton and Ralph continued to operate Rausch Brothers Trucking until his retirement in 1981. Ralph enjoyed playing cards, going to the senior center and visiting with friends, as well as, watching his grandchildren in their sports activities. He was a member of Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph’s Center, New Hampton American Legion Fae Stine Post #38 and the Knights of Columbus. Ralph is survived by his loving wife, Mary Jane of New Hampton; his children, Bob (Brenda) Rausch also of New Hampton and Janet (Ray) Herriott of Kalispell, MT; his grandchildren, Ryan (Heather) Rausch of New Hampton, Brooke (Patrick) Toohey of Waverly, James (Ashley) Herriott, Robert Herriott and TJ Herriott all of Kalispell, MT; one sister, Margaret Wegner of New Hampton; sisters-in-law, Celine Scholl of New Hampton, Lyanda Siglin of Seattle, WA and June Rausch of Charles City; brother-in-law, Edward (Shirley) Goebel of Colorado Springs, CO; his great-grandchildren, Reid and Kye Rausch and numerous nieces and nephews. His was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Joanne Pickar and brothers, Vincent, Louis, Edward and Leander “Mickey”.
Cemetery:
Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in New Hampton with Dick Rausch, Tim Rausch, Jim Rausch, Tony Rausch, David Pickar, Russ Wegner and Steve Wegner serving as casket bearers. Military rites will be provided by the American Legion Fae Stine Post #38 and the VFW Post #5238.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
with a 7:00pm scriptural wake service at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in New Hampton. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday.
at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph’s Center in New Hampton, IA with Father Mark Osterhaus celebrating the mass.
Always a smile and a wave when I’d see Ralph in the car…what a kind and true gentleman. God bless, guide ,and comfort you in the days ahead.
Bob, Brenda, & Family, Our sympathy and prayers to
all of your family. Dad was a good friend to my dad
as well as a friend to many. He will be missed but he
has now reached his eternal life in Heaven. May he rest
in peace.
Bob/family and Janet – So sorry to hear of the passing of Ralph. He was always such a kind soft spoken person. It is hard to lose a parent – keep all the wonderful memories you have of him close to your heart at this difficult time. Thinking and praying for all of you at this time.
Grandpa….thanks for being a great example of how to live life. Slow and steady wins the race. Simple, Humble, and Happy is the way to be. You will be missed by many, but never forgotten.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Ralph’s family, may your memories bring comfort in the days ahead.
To the family of Ralph Rausch; WE are so sorry to hear of Ralph’s death.I had the privelige of knowing the family for many many years.Ralph was a good freind and customer it seems all my working years. May he rest in peace and the family will know he will be missed.Duane and Marlys
Dear Mary Jane, Janet, Bob and Grandchildren, We just can’t say how sorry and sad we were to here about Uncle Ralph. You know I loved him so. He blessed us all with the gift of a warm heart and gentleness of spirit. I always felt like “everything would be O.K.” when I was around him. And now, everything is O.K. with him…but better than O.K.—everything is PERFECT because he is with Jesus, whom he loved very much. He will always be in my prayers as will be all your family. May the Peace of Christ be with you all during this time. Dick and Nancy
Mary Jane and family, We were so sorry to hear of the passing of Ralph. The most gracious and gentle man will be in our memory forever. Ralph always had a great story to tell and we go back many years of a great friendship. He will be missed by many. Our sympathy and prayers to all of you during this difficult time.
Our deepest sympathy to Mary Jane and the family. I remember Ralph from way back when he and my dad were friends. Always a kind word to say and so gentle. May God Bless his family in their loss and grant him eternal rest.
Ralph was an inspiration in my life. I grew up in New Hampton, daughter of Tom & Mila Mae Meyer. He was in the Nights of Columbus with my Daddy and Uncle Ed. I remember going to funerals with my Dad and Ralph would stand guard with the Nights at the funerals and Ralph would always tease me and play around with me. He treated me like a daughter. Over the past 10 years or so, when I came home to visit, Ralph was usually uptown at the grocery store or Pamida shopping and I would get the warmest hug from him, and he always remembered me, and never forgot the times we shared together over the years. He was a wonderful loving man with a heart bigger than the world. My husband Richard and I will truly miss seeing him when we return home again. Our deepest sympathy to the entire family, especially Mary. his wife. You are all in our prayers, with love, Richard and Mary Jo Love
To all the Rausch family, you have our deepest sympathy.
Ralph will always be remembered by us as a soft spoken gentleman with that GREAT smile and that wonderful chuckle. He was a pleasure to have known.
To MaryJane, Bob and Janet….you’re in my thoughts and prayers with the passing of Ralph! He was my Godfather and a great one at that!! I have alot of great memories of Ralph that have been going thru my mind since I learned of his passing!!
God Bless!!
Dick Galligan
To The Family of Ralph Rausch –
Please accept my deepest condolences. I am praying
for strength and comfort for all of you at this time.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”-Matthew 5:4
Bob & Family…Sorry to hear of your loss….Losing your father is never easy, no matter when it happens……let your family, friends, and memories be your support through these troubling days.
Bob and Family: Your friends at Berthel Fisher & Co will be keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers.
Bob, Brenda and the Rausch family:
We extend our sympathy on the passing of Ralph. Our thoughts are with you.
Bob and Linda
Dear Aunt MaryJane, Jan & Bob,
Cindy and I are so sad that Uncle Ralph has up and left us all and gone off to be the new newest angel in heaven…but I guess God figured that 93 years was a long time to share such a such a sweet, wonderful, gentle man–now it’s God’s turn. Our hearts are full of fond memories of our summer visits to New Hampton and staying at your home. Uncle Ralph will live in our hearts forever. Much love to all of you and please know that our hearts will be with you on Saturday.
I willalways remember Ralph as friendly and open person. He and my father John Frantzen were good friends. He had a great sense of humor. TOm
Mary Jane, Bob and Janet. Our deepest sympathy to you and all your families. We always enjoyed talking to Ralph and he always had a smile of happiness on his face.
We pray that our Lord will help you all , especially in the next few days. May Ralph be at peace.
Our deepest sympathies to you for your loss. Cherish the memories that you have and life truly will never end. You are all in our thoughts and prayer.
Our deepest sympathy to all of Ralph’s family. Ralph was one of those people you loved to see, because he always had a smile to share, and something kind to say! He will be truly missed, may God’s love be with you all.
Bob, we extend our sympathy to you and your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dear Bob and Family,
I was so saddened to hear of your father’s death- especially after I had just seen you at the hospital yesterday, and you had been so kind to me. I assumed you had been there visiting someone, and I had not yet heard of Ralph’s passing, so I felt awful later, to have seen you, not knowing what you were going through at the time. I hope you will accept my belated condolences and know that my (and Dean’s) sincerest sympathies are with you and your family. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers as you go through this difficult time. I know your father/grandfather will be truly missed. May the memories you all share together bring you peace and comfort, and may God give you strength and joy in those memories as you honor your loved one. With Deepest Sympathies, Judy and Dean
I wish I could borrow this book and fill its pages with the wonderful and loving memories of my Uncle Ralph that will forever be a part of me. Since my earliest childhood days, I knew . . . I felt that there was something very special about him. He was an Uncle who sincerely took the time to single children out as worthwhile individuals. He’d talk to us and relate to us as he gathered us in with his warm smile and twinkling eyes. He valued us, he made us feel important. He made us feel loved.
My prayer is that I gave even just a little of it back to him.
Our Deepest Sympathy to Mary Jane, Bob, Janet and all the family.
Mary Jane, Janet and Bob,
I am so very sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure this winter of stopping by to visit with Ralph and Mary Jane when I was in town. We had a lot of laughs talking about the old days when Janet and I played softball together and sharing photos. Ralph was always very kind to me; and after losing my own father, Nubs, I know personally of the deep hurt Janet and Bob are feeling. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Terry Lynn
Sorry for your lose. Always enjoyed talking with Ralph. He was a very nice gentleman. Oour thoughts and prayers are with you. Will not be able to attend any of the memorials.
We are on vacation.
I’ve been honored to enjoy time recently spent in visiting Ralph and Mary Jane in their home. It was so much fun to reminisce as they shared their stories. In particular, the Honor Flight was a special highlight which Ralph loved to talk about. We had many chuckles, and I feel like I made two new friends. I will visit again soon, Mary Jane. Take care.
Mary Jane, talked to mom last night and she told me about Ralph.
Sure am glad we stopped in to see you when we did.
Just remember he is with God now and out of pain.
Also him and dad are together and probably raising cane.
Take care and God Bless.
Nancy
Dear Mary Jane, Bob, Janet, Ralph’s sister, Margaret, and all of the Rausch family: Bob and I extend our deepest sympathy to all of you. You are all in our prayers. We usually sat quite close to Ralph in church, and he was such a kind, loving and warm person – the kind of person we know what will go straight to his heavenly home. God bless each of you.
Tom and I have just returned from southern Texas visiting my dad and heard of Ralph’s passing while we were there. We all had a great visit about him and shared some stories and thoughts about what a great guy he was! In retrospect, it was what we would all want–after our passing that people will visit about us with great stories, smiles, and good thoughts about us! Hope your memories help you through….