George Rau, known as dad, grandpa, Mr. Rau, coach, uncle, and friend departed this life on February 10, 2021 at Montgomery Place in Independence.
George was born on May 29, 1934 in Morrison, OK to P.W. and Bessie (Jobe) Rau. The family made their home Chautauqua County where George attended school in Niotaze until the 8th grade. He then attended high school at Caney Valley, graduating with the class of ’53. George continued his education at Coffeyville Community College on a football scholarship. It was during this time he met Ramona Fox during a track practice, Ramona had mentioned to her friends that she was going to marry that boy and she did on March 10, 1956. The couple was blessed with a daughter and a son. George then continued his college education at Northwestern Oklahoma University in Alva where he again earned a football scholarship. After earning his degree he began teaching at Boice City, OK for a couple of years then on to Elkhart, KS for another couple of years before landing in Caney, KS. George taught drafting and woodshop, coached football, girls’ basketball, track, and jr high basketball and football and most proudly coaching his son Aaron and grandsons Jason and Dustin. He devoted 38 years to teaching the students of Caney Valley and 42 years of coaching before he retired.
George used to enjoy pheasant hunting and would go to extreme measures like camping in freezing temperatures. Once retired he and Ramona loved camping and traveling the nation together. George loved his family and treasured every second he spent with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers and sisters; the family reunion in July was always a highlight. One of George’s dreams was to design and build his own home and he included the entire family in the process, he even made most of the furniture in the home. George was proud of his family always, proud of his vegetable garden, and proud of his former students and athletes.
George’s memories will live on with his children; Lesa Rau and Aaron Rau and his wife Teresa, grandchildren; Jason Rau his wife Maria, Crystal Rau, and Dustin Rau, great-grandsons; Seth Rau and Shay Rau, his brother Donald Rau, sister-in-law Naomi Smead and her husband Don, and numerous nieces and nephews.
George is reunited with his parents, his loving wife of 63 years Ramona, his brother Walter, sisters; Gladys Tate, Bonnie Shields, and Virginia Lagel.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 10:00am at Hope Church Caney where George was a longtime member; services will be live streamed on Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel’s Facebook page. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel. Following Covid-19 guidelines masks and social distancing will be required. Burial will take place on Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 2:00pm at Diamond, MO. The family suggests memorials be made payable to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice or the Journey Home and they may be sent in care of Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel 2405 Woodland Ave. Coffeyville, KS 67337. To share a memory or leave the family a message of condolence, please visit www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com
