Pfc. Francis L. Rausch (1921-1945)

RAUSCH, STRUVE, ROHWER, ORTHMANN, KRUGER

Posted By: Alan Nicholson
Date: 7/7/2012 at 13:17:55

Sutherland Courier, 18 Nov 1948, p 1, Col. 4

Pfc. Francis Rausch's Body Being Brought Home

Mr. and Mrs. V. N. Rausch have received word that the body of their son, Pfc. Francis L. (Sonny) Rausch, is being shipped from France, and will arrive in the United States within a few weeks. They will receive further word when it will be sent to Sutherland from Chicago. Pfc. Rausch entered the air corps Oct. 7, 1942 and was later transferred to the Infantry. He was killed in action in Czechoslovakia May 1, 1945.

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Sutherland Courier, 16 Dec 1948, p 1, Col. 3

Rausch Military Rites Saturday; Body to Arrive Friday Noon

Citizens of this community will pay tribute to another of its soldier dead Saturday afternoon, when funeral services for Pfc. Francis Rausch will be held at 2:30 o'clock at the Methodist church. Rev. Corwin Taylor of Lohrville will be in charge, assisted by Rev. L. W. Rowse. Full military rites in charge of Sutherland American Legion Post No. 152 will be held at Waterman cemetery, where the body will be re-interred.

Will Arrive Friday

Pfc. Rausch's body will arrive Friday at 11:55 a.m. with a military escort from Chicago. Members of the Sutherland Legion and a color guard will escort the body from the depot to the Baumgarten Funeral Home where it will remain until time for the services.

Flags to Be Flown
Stores Closed 2:30 to 3:10

Flags are to be flown at half mast from Friday morning until after the funeral, when they should be raised to full staff for the remainder of the day. Business places will be closed Saturday afternoon from 2:30 until 3:10 for the services.

Pfc. Rausch, son of Mr. and Mrs. V. N. Rausch, was killed in action in Czechoslovakia May 1, 1945. He entered the armed services in the air corps October 7, 1942 and was later transferred to the infantry. An obituary will be published next week.

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Sutherland Courier, 23 Dec 1948, p 1, Col. 4

Military Funeral Honors Pfc. Rausch
[article accompanied by portrait photograph of Pfc. Rausch in uniform]

Tribute to the memory of Pfc. Francis L. Rausch, who gave his life for his country on foreign soil during World War II, was paid by a large number of relatives and friends, who attended military services honoring him Saturday afternoon at the Methodist church. Further tribute was expressed in the profusion of flowers and the memorial gifts. Rev. Corwin Taylor of Lohrville, former pastor here, and Rev. L. W. Rowse had charge of the services directed by the Baumgarten Funeral Home.

Mrs. Phillip Jordan, with accompaniment by Mrs. Loren Drefke, sang "Someday We'll Understand" and "Be Still My Soul". Pallbearers were Hugh Farquharson, Ray Brechwald, James Powell, Gerald Austin, John Jansen and Merle Haye. Mr. and Mrs. Roger Youde and Mrs. Margaret Prew had charge of the flowers. They and the pallbearers were all former classmates of Pfc. Rausch, all being graduates of the class of 1938.

The Legionnaires formed an escort for the flag-covered casket at the church. Full military rites were conducted by the Sutherland Legion Post. No. 152 at Waterman cemetery. Rex Martin and Joe Martin served as color bearers and Clay Davis and Alfred Jensen as color guard. Irvin Struve directed the firing squad and Clayton Hill, as bugler, sounded taps. Bernard Watterson, chaplain, removed the flag from the casket and M. Sgt. Ernest Stratton of St. Sheridan, Ill., who was the military escort for the remains of Pfc. Rausch from Chicago, presented the flag to the family.

1921 - Francis L. Rausch - 1945

Francis L. Rausch, son of Mr. and Mrs. V. N. Rausch, was born February 7, 1921, at Sutherland, Iowa. He was killed in action on May 1, 1945, in Czechoslovakia while serving his country with Hodgen's 1st Army, 1st Division, 16th Infantry.

Francis grew to manhood in this community. It was here he attended the public school from which he was graduated with the class of 1938. He was united in marriage to Helen Struve, now Mrs. Lloyd Rohwer, of Gaza, Iowa, on January 24, 1943, at Harlingen, Texas. To this union were born two children, David Francis, and Donna Vicki Rausch. He attended Sunday School and church at the Methodist Church of which he was a member. After graduation he assisted his father in business until the time of his induction.

After his induction on October 7, 1942, at Primghar, he spent the next 2-1/2 years in various army camps in the United States, and on March 6, 1945, he was sent overseas and served in the European Theatre until the time of his death two months later. He was temporarily buried at Nuremburg, Germany, and later moved to the U. S. Military Cemetery St. Avold at Metz, France.

Surviving are his parents, V. N. and Elizabeth Rausch; two children; three brothers, Roy of Park Rapids, Minn., Leo of Estherville, and Frank of Paullina; two sisters, Iva (Mrs. Herman Orthmann) of Paullina, and Vernie (Mrs. Erwin Kruger) of Sutherland, and other relatives and many friends who mourn his death.

Relatives and friends from away who attended the services were Mrs. Lizzie Ginger of Everly; Mrs. Eva Cooper, Mrs. Catherine Gibson and Nathan, Mrs. Lucy Nelson and Dorothy, Mary Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Randolph, James Williamson, Mrs. Byron Nelson and Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Masscey, Spencer ; Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Rausch, Milford; Mr. and Mrs. Jake Rausch, Larrabee, Mr. and Mrs. Bus Cooper and daughter, and Mr. and Mrs. Leo Struve and Phyllis, Hartley; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rausch and Marcia, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Orthmann, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Cooper, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Cooper, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Struve, Paullina; Mr. and Mrs. Leo Rausch, Betty Lu and Burdette, Estherville; John J. Jensen, Charles City; High Farquharson, Storm Lake; Gerald Austin, Sioux City.

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Sutherland Courier, 23 Dec 1948, p 3

Col. 4

Thank You

We wish to express our sincere appreciation to the American Legion, the Auxiliary and our many neighbors and friends for their many acts of kindness and the message of sympathy at our bereavement; also for the floral tributes and the memorial gifts.
Mr. and Mrs. V. N. Rausch and family
Mrs. Helen Rohwer and David and Donna Rausch.