Obituary - James R. Rauch

James Richard Rauch, 79, passed away Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene. He was born Dec. 27, 1932, in Troy, to Beatrice Helen Christie and H. Wayne Rauch. Jim started working at the age of 10 at Rauch Lumber Company in Troy.

He continued working for Bennett Lumber Company in Princeton in the late '60s when Bennett's bought out Rauch Lumber Co. Jim then moved to Tularosa, N.M., in the mid-'80s, where he helped the Mescalaro Indians start up a sawmill. He sold lumber for them until he retired at age 591/2.

Jim served two years in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Japan, where he set up communication towers. When he arrived back in the states he met Lula L. Albert at the Troy Fireman's Ball; they were married Dec. 30, 1955.

Jim and Lu raised four children, Kenneth, Richard, Karen and Sharon, in Troy. Jim never missed a sporting event that the kids participated in.

He volunteered as a scorekeeper and ran the chains at football games.

The family hosted a foreign exchange student, Haroldo Lacerdo, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1974, and still keep in contact with him. Jim started a Lions Club in Troy and Potlatch. He also was a member of the Lions in New Mexico while living there. Jim was a volunteer fireman and EMT in Troy.

He was a member of the Potlatch Mineral Club as well as the North Idaho Mineral Club, as he was an avid rock hound. He belonged to the CDA Parkinson Support Group, CDA Eagles, American Legion, CDA Camper Club, and the Lake City Striders. Jim enjoyed playing bingo at the Lake City Senior Center and the American Legion.

After retiring, Jim and Lu returned to northern Idaho to enjoy their grown children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His best days were spent with family and friends playing cards or watching Ichiro and the Seattle Mariners. Jim and Lu spent their winters as snowbirds and enjoyed the many friends they made on the desert. He loved his family and spent all those years working so that his children could play. Thanks Dad for a wonderful childhood, all those years water skiing and camping at the lake, all those hours watching us play sports and for being a great dad; you will be greatly missed. Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2002.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brother Willis Rauch, and sister JoAnn Swartz.

Survivors include Ken and Cindy Rauch in Pooler, Ga., Rich and Gloria Rauch in St. Maries, Lowell and Karen Goodson in Cataldo, Idaho, and Sharon Rauch in Potlatch; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family suggest memorial donations to: CDA Parkinson Support Group, Troy Ambulance/Fire Dept., Troy, Potlatch or Tularosa Lions Clubs.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel and Gathering Center, Hayden, Idaho.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit James' online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign his guest book.

Lewiston Tribune, September 13, 2012, p. 5C
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock