Mary H. Rausch

Mankato Mortuary1001 N. Riverfront DriveMankato, MN  56001(507) 388-2202Mary Helen Rausch, age 87, of Mankato, died Monday, July 10, 2017, at Mayo Clinic Health System – Mankato. Mass of Christian Burial will be 5:00 p.m., Friday, July 14, 2017, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Mankato, with Rev. John Kunz officiating.  Visitation will be 3-5 p.m. at the church on Friday.  Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Mankato at a later date.  Mankato Mortuary handled the arrangements.  Memorials may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Cancer Society. Mary was born October 29, 1929, in Mankato.  She was the daughter of John and Anna (Schaub) Bruender.  Mary was a graduate of Mankato High School.  She was in the first ever one year LPN training program taught by the nuns at St. Joseph’s Hospital.  She was united in marriage to Robert Rausch on October 18, 1950, in Mankato.  Mary was employed as a nurse for 30 years at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Mankato, and another 15 years at Good Counsel – School Sisters of Notre Dame.  She was an active member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Mankato until she moved to St. Peter in 2015.  Mary enjoyed serving others and volunteering with Hospice, Salvation Army, and VINE.  She also enjoyed gardening, baking, and spending time with family and friends. Mary is survived by her daughter, JoAnn (Terry) Alfson of Mankato; son, James (Kerry) Rausch of Eagle Lake; three grandsons, Ryan (special friend, Alyssa Johnson) Alfson of Englewood, CO, Samuel Rausch of Mankato, and Matthew “Matt” Rausch of Eagle Lake; sisters-in-law, Norma Rausch of Bella Vista, AR, Martha (Mel) Dressel of Belle Plaine, Mary (Larry) Culligan of Naples, FL, and Lucille Klebel of Mankato; and also many nieces, nephews, other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Andrew in 2001; husband, Robert in 2003; three brothers, Ray, Henry, and Martin Bruender; and two sisters, Mickey Klebel and Pauline Bruender.