Obit: Rau, John William (1883-1961)

Contact: Linda Mertens
Email: mertens@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Rau, Kollath, Rauscher, Pope, Genrich, Schmidt, Konecny, Fierke, Schrader, Maxam, Ecke, Braun, Janke

----Source – Anna Johnson’s Scrapbook

John William Rau (17 Sep 1883 – 16 Jan 1961)

Funeral services for John W Rau, 77 were held here today from the Peace Evangelical and Reformed Church (Dorchester, Clark Co., WI). The Rev. Fred W. Kollath, pastor, officiated at the 2 p.m. rites. Mrs. Frank Rauscher and Mrs. Ray Pope sang “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Ivory Palaces”. Miss Olga Genrich, organist for the services, played accompaniment for the singers.

Interment was made in the Peace Cemetery with Richard Schmidt, Sr., Joseph C. Konecny, Victor Fierke, Arthur Schrader, Lowell Maxam and Henry Ecke serving as pallbearers. Fuchsgruber Funeral Service had charge of arrangements.

Mr. Rau died early Monday morning in the Medford hospital. He had entered the hospital the first week in December for examination. He returned there Dec. 16 for further treatment, undergoing surgery Dec. 19, but progress of his illness could not be halted, and death came in the early hours of Jan. 16.

John William Rau was born Sept 17, 1883, at Sullivan in Jefferson County, and came here during childhood with his parents. He was reared here and received his education in the local schools. On Sept. 11, 1912, he and Louise Braun were married in the Peace church here, with the Rev. Janke, pastor, officiating.

He worked as a farm hand, millwright and carpenter in the community most of his life. He resided for several years also at Gardena, N.D. and in Marshfield.

Surviving are his widow; four brothers, Henry of Germantown, Willard of Menomonee Falls, William of Curlew, Wash., and Charles of Ironwood, Mich. Three of the brothers were here for the funeral, with fourth, William, unable to attend as he is ill in a Washington hospital.

He was preceded in death by a son who died in infancy and a sister, Anna.