Mary Joann Rauh, 94, died peacefully at her home on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. She was born January 18, 1931 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the first child of Robert A. and Mary F. (Wordeman) Obermeyer. She graduated from Ohio Dominican College and was one of the first female chemists hired at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati in 1952.
While on a blind date at Coney Island, Joann fell for the young medical resident Bob Rauh, and they were married in 1953. With her husband serving in the Army, she went to Germany where they had their first child. The young couple moved to Wabash, Indiana and raised their ten children on Miami Street. Dr. Rauh died in 2020.
Joann led a varied and busy life. She pursed her own interests while encouraging her children in their activities. During her long life in the community, she served more than three terms on the Wabash County Council, was president of ARC of Wabash County, was involved in the Wabash County Republican Women’s Club, Wabash Economic Development Corp., Wabash City Municipal Aviation board, and was a founding member of the Wabash Hospital Auxiliary. Joann was a faithful 70-year member of St. Bernard’s Church, volunteering as a CCD teacher. She loved arranging flowers from her garden for the church altar.
Joann was a voracious reader, a gifted seamstress and quilter, competitive bridge player, and skilled golfer. She was a fearless pilot, obtaining a commercial pilot’s license, and an eager traveler. She and Bob spent many wonderful winters in Sun City, Arizona surrounded by warm friends and green golf courses.
And finally, she was a loving mother and grandmother, and a role model to her family. She is survived by nine children, Mary Anne (Jim) Bain, Wabash, Susie (Eric) Mortensen, Northville, Michigan, Andy (Katie) Rauh, River Forest, Illinois, Bill (Kristi) Rauh, Wabash, Joe (Suzanne) Rauh, Indianapolis, Indiana, Jane (Mike) Nichols, Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, Sarah (Rod) Cole, Wabash, John (Kristin) Rauh, Carmel, Indiana, and Liz (Pat) Bryan, Fort Wayne; grandchildren, Mike, Andy, Emily, Katie, Lauren, Howard, Henry, Ryan, Matt, Mary, Jack, Ellie, Jordan, Tom, Becca, Marlee, Jimmy, Jack, Robbie, Annie, Aidan, Lizzy, Lucy, and Mimi; 18 great grandchildren; her brother the Rev. Robert Obermeyer, and her sister Martha (Dick) Seiler, and nieces and nephews. She was preceeded in death by her parents, husband, son Augie, and sister Marilyn Walsh.
Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 188 W. Sinclair Street, Wabash. Rosary will be recited at 10 a.m. followed by Mass at the church with burial at Falls Cemetery, Wabash. Arrangements by Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, Wabash.
Preferred memorial is St. Bernard School
The memorial guest book for Joann may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.
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