Norman Herman Rau

Norman Herman Rau passed away on August 26, 2022, at Stone Lodge Memory Care in Shepherd on his 95 ^th birthday.  Norman was born on August 26, 1927, in Beal City, the son of the late Louis and Albina (Boge) Rau.  He married Patricia Shanahan on August 25, 1951, at St. Philomena Catholic Church in Beal City.  Norman served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army at the end of WWII (1945-1947), spending the majority of that time in Iceland.  He co-owned and operated Marchiando and Rau Masonry for over 40 years, retiring in 1992.  He was very proud of his Army service and business, talking of both often.  Norman loved spending time with family, especially at deer camp, tending to his flowers, listening and dancing to polka music, pontoon rides around Coldwater Lake, attending Beal City sporting events, and in his younger years, camping, golfing, and bowling.  Norman had a quick wit and was always ready with some sort of nonsensical saying like, "pea-corn, pop-nuts, soda-gum, and chewing-water."  Norman was a lifelong member of St. Philomena/St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, and his faith was a very important part of his life.  He was a founding member of Mission Lumber (now Dewitt Lumber) and, for many years, was an active member of the Beal City Knights of Columbus, the Homebuilders Association of Central Michigan, and the Beal City Board of Education.  Norman is survived by his wife of 71 years, Patricia Rau of Beal City; three children, Cynthia Griswold of Mt. Pleasant, Daniel (Karen) Rau of Mt. Pleasant, and Louis Rau of Traverse City; six grandchildren, Jacob (Cari) Griswold of Hastings, Philip (Briana) Lieby of Riverdale, Olivia Rau of Grand Rapids, Jonathan Rau of Hartford, CT, Joseph Rau of Baltimore, MD, Erica Lieby of Mecosta; three great grandchildren, Ondreya, Desmond, and Annalysa Griswold; daughter in law, Deb Lieby; sisters, Mary Irene (Fred) Zeien of Beal City, and Gert Brownlee of Sanford; sisters in law, Edna "Doll" Rau of Beal City, Eileen Rau of Mt. Pleasant, and Sharon Bordeleau of Haslett; and many nieces and nephews.  Norman was preceded in death by both parents; son, Eric Lieby; sisters, Rose Marie Funnell, Margaret Noble; brothers, Harold, Raymond, Stephen, Walter, and Donald Rau; and in-laws, Edna Rau, Gaye Rau, Sally Rau, Richard Funnell, Ted Brownlee, Ted Bordeleau, Caroline (Warren) Cole, Helen (Ivan) Goffnett, Idella (Thomas) Phillips, and Echo (Joseph) Sliger.  A funeral mass will be held for Norman at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 1, 2022, at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Beal City with Father Tom Held presiding.  Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, and a luncheon will follow at the Beal City Knights of Columbus Hall.  The family will receive friends in the gathering room of the church on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, from 4-7 p.m. with a Rosary prayer at 7 p.m.  Visitation will continue Thursday, one hour prior to Mass.  Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph the Worker Church and Stone Lodge Memory Care.  The family extends a special thank you to Lois Montgomery and the excellent staff at Stone Lodge Memory Care for the care that was given to Norman.    To sign the online guest book or leave a condolence for the family please visit www.CharlesRLux.com.