Richard C. Rau

ALBRECHT, ARTHAUD, KRESS, RAU, SWARTS

Posted By: Cindy (email)
Date: 12/2/2021 at 18:49:09

Richard C. Rau, 85, of Aurora, Iowa died Sunday morning, February 23, 2020, at the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence, surrounded by his family.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 A.M. Friday, February 28, 2020 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oelwein with Fr. Ray Atwood, Deacon Jim Patera and Deacon Tim Post officiating.

Visitation: 3:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. on Friday at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein.

4th Degree Knights of Columbus Rosary: 3:00 P.M. on Thursday at the funeral home

Interment: St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Hazleton, with military honors by the Aurora American Legion Post #435 Honor Guard.

A memorial fund has been established.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Richard Clair Rau was born December 14, 1934 in Aurora, Iowa, the son of Clair David and Lillian Jane (Swarts) Rau. Dick graduated with the class of 1953 from Hazleton Consolidated School in Hazleton, served in the National Guard as a Minute Man, delivered milk in Oelwein for Sanitary Dairy and started farming. Dick was united in marriage to Marion Elizabeth Arthaud on October 17, 1959 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hazleton. Dick has been involved in farming throughout his entire life. He had a love and interest in every aspect of farming. With that passion, Dick has taught and passed that passion down to his sons and grandsons. Grandpa was kinda like the “Field of Dreams.” If you had an idea to build something out of metal … and kinda described what you were thinking … he would build it … might take him some “thinking time” to get his plans in his head … but it was always done to perfection. Family, farming, friends and faith were his life.

Dick was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein and was active with the Oelwein Knights of Columbus. Dick served on the Fayette County Fair Board, Fayette County Cattlemen’s Association (being named to the Hall of Fame in 2009), was an active member of the Aurora American Legion Post #435 and the Aurora Community Club for many years. Most recently, Dick served on the Aurora City Council. Dick and Marion have played in the same card club since they were married and enjoyed traveling with family and friends throughout the years.

Dick is survived by his wife of 60 years: Marion Rau of Independence; 3 children: Annette Kress of Winthrop, Mike (Kim) Rau of Aurora and Steve(Missy) Rau of Stanley;

8 grandchildren: Ryan (Dawn) Kress of Winthrop, Jonathan (Holly) Kress of Winthrop,Blake Rau (Tiffany) of Aurora, Bryan Rau of Aurora, Troy Rau (Tatum) of Aurora,Beth (Scott) Albrecht of Maynard, Tyler (Madison) Rau of Rockwell and Tanner (Amanda) Rau of DeWitt;

8 great grandchildren;

brother: Roger (Kay) Rau of Casa Grande, Arizona;

sister-in-law: Pauline Rau of Oelwein;

and several nieces and nephews.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents and a brother: Ronald Rau.