William H. “Bill” Rauh
July 17th, 1927 - January 24th, 2022
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Bill's Obituary
William Harold “Bill” Rauh, 94, of Benton Harbor, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 24, 2022, at Woodland Terrace in St. Joseph.
The funeral will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 29, at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, corner of Colfax and Kline, Benton Harbor, the Rev. Nathan Buch officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Matthew’s or to Michigan Lutheran High School. Those wishing to sign Bill’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Bill was born on July 17, 1927, in Benton Harbor to Olga (Steinke) and William Hartman Rauh. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, and attended elementary school there. In 1945 he graduated from Benton Harbor High School and shortly afterward enlisted in the United States Navy. He served his country in World War II (Pacific Theater) as a Seaman First Class on the USS Luzon. He was honorably discharged in August 1946.
He attended Benton Harbor Junior College, graduating with his associate of arts degree in 1949. He then attended Kalamazoo College, where he learned to play tennis and made extra money cooking grilled cheese sandwiches for his dorm mates on Sunday evenings. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English literature in 1951.
In 1951 he went to work in the advertising department of the News-Palladium newspaper, forerunner of the Herald-Palladium. He worked as a retail sales representative handling local accounts, chief of the advertising dispatch department, national and co-op sales manager, and acting advertising manager, before retiring in 1989. In his 40’s he quit smoking and took up running. He never did a marathon but did do his fair share of locally sponsored runs.
He was perhaps most familiar to many during his part-time job at Lambrecht Package Liquor Store in St. Joseph, where he worked for about 60 years. He became the unofficial “wine guy” for a number of years. He finally retired at age 91.
In 1953 he married the love of his life, Nona Nusbaum. They started their family on Parker Avenue in Benton Harbor, then moved in 1958 to the family home in Fairplain.
He loved his church, St. Matthew’s, and served in many roles: Sunday School teacher, choir member, elder, and church council. He also was active in serving on the Foundation Board of Michigan Lutheran High School. He was never shy about witnessing his faith, sharing the “Good News” to friends and strangers alike.
Bill is survived by his children: Brian and Marisabel Rauh of Sarasota, FL; Jill Rauh of Benton Harbor; the Rev. Matthew and Janice Rauh of Arlington, MN; grandchildren, Maggie and Zak Fick of Sioux Falls, SD; William Rauh and Robert Rauh of Arlington; and his sister, Carol Truhn of Portage, MI. He also is survived by his brothers-in-law Fred (Lori) Summerfelt and Ted (Jean) Summerfelt; Fred Luther; Bill Summerfelt; sister-in-law Jeanne (Daryl) Dupre; as well as many much-loved nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Nona; parents Bill and Olga Rauh; sister Anita Rauh; sister and brother-in-law Elaine and Bob Miller; and sisters-in-law Connie Luther and Barb Summerfelt.
The funeral will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 29, at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, corner of Colfax and Kline, Benton Harbor, the Rev. Nathan Buch officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Matthew’s or to Michigan Lutheran High School. Those wishing to sign Bill’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Bill was born on July 17, 1927, in Benton Harbor to Olga (Steinke) and William Hartman Rauh. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, and attended elementary school there. In 1945 he graduated from Benton Harbor High School and shortly afterward enlisted in the United States Navy. He served his country in World War II (Pacific Theater) as a Seaman First Class on the USS Luzon. He was honorably discharged in August 1946.
He attended Benton Harbor Junior College, graduating with his associate of arts degree in 1949. He then attended Kalamazoo College, where he learned to play tennis and made extra money cooking grilled cheese sandwiches for his dorm mates on Sunday evenings. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English literature in 1951.
In 1951 he went to work in the advertising department of the News-Palladium newspaper, forerunner of the Herald-Palladium. He worked as a retail sales representative handling local accounts, chief of the advertising dispatch department, national and co-op sales manager, and acting advertising manager, before retiring in 1989. In his 40’s he quit smoking and took up running. He never did a marathon but did do his fair share of locally sponsored runs.
He was perhaps most familiar to many during his part-time job at Lambrecht Package Liquor Store in St. Joseph, where he worked for about 60 years. He became the unofficial “wine guy” for a number of years. He finally retired at age 91.
In 1953 he married the love of his life, Nona Nusbaum. They started their family on Parker Avenue in Benton Harbor, then moved in 1958 to the family home in Fairplain.
He loved his church, St. Matthew’s, and served in many roles: Sunday School teacher, choir member, elder, and church council. He also was active in serving on the Foundation Board of Michigan Lutheran High School. He was never shy about witnessing his faith, sharing the “Good News” to friends and strangers alike.
Bill is survived by his children: Brian and Marisabel Rauh of Sarasota, FL; Jill Rauh of Benton Harbor; the Rev. Matthew and Janice Rauh of Arlington, MN; grandchildren, Maggie and Zak Fick of Sioux Falls, SD; William Rauh and Robert Rauh of Arlington; and his sister, Carol Truhn of Portage, MI. He also is survived by his brothers-in-law Fred (Lori) Summerfelt and Ted (Jean) Summerfelt; Fred Luther; Bill Summerfelt; sister-in-law Jeanne (Daryl) Dupre; as well as many much-loved nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Nona; parents Bill and Olga Rauh; sister Anita Rauh; sister and brother-in-law Elaine and Bob Miller; and sisters-in-law Connie Luther and Barb Summerfelt.
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