Gerald W. Rausch

Gerald (Jerry) Rausch, 82, of La Crosse, died Saturday, August 8, 2020 at his daughter’s home in Ettrick from congestive heart failure. Jerry was born March 18, 1938, in New Hampton, Iowa to Neil and Esther (Behrens) Rausch. He married Joan Menne on Sept. 3, 1960, in Ossian, Iowa.

After earning a B.S. from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa in 1959, and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Iowa in 1963, he began his career as an industrial chemist, working for Union Carbide in Charleston, West Virginia. After several years, he happily returned to the Midwest to join the Chemistry faculty at the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse where he taught organic chemistry from 1965 until retiring in 1999.

He had a love of the outdoors and dedicated his leisure time to hunting and fishing. He was a long-time member of the La Crosse Rifle Club, taught hunter’s safety and introduced several generations of friends and family to the joys of the outdoors. He was also a woodworker who filled several houses with beautiful furniture.

Jerry is survived by his son, John (Tom) Rausch (Judy) of La Crosse and his daughter, Jennifer Rausch (Mike Beeson) of Ettrick; his grandchildren, Connor (Allyson) Rausch of Tomah, Cameron Rausch (Courtney) of Manhattan, KS, and Carter Rausch of La Crosse; and one great grandson, Liam Rausch of Manhattan, KS. He is also survived by his sisters Cathy Balik and Betty Johnson; and his brothers John (Tom) Rausch and Alan Rausch. He was preceded in death by his wife Joan, his parents and by his infant brother Anthony.

Services will be held at a later date to enable friends and family to travel and gather safely. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Native American Veterans Association.