John Wayne Rauber

John Wayne Rauber, 70, passed on to Eternity on Thursday, June 3, 2010, due to an accidental death. John was born on January 12, 1940 in Jackson County, Kansas City, Missouri to parents Violet and Edgar Rauber. John had an active and happy childhood and participated in many sports and other activities. John graduated from East High School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1958. While at East High School, John lettered in basketball. John enjoyed playing basketball until he was almost 40 years old after which he refereed a number of years. John met Judith Ann Stotts in 1959 and was immediately smitten. Judy and John were married soon after on November 5, 1959. They lived for their first few years in the Liberty, Missouri area and then moved to Johnson County, Kansas for a number of years. They then moved to a rural area of Spring Hill, Kansas. Before John’s retirement in 1999, Judy and John lived for 15 years in the Overland Park area. In 1999, Judy and John retired and moved to Holiday Island, Arkansas (near Eureka Springs, AR). They loved the area and John played many rounds of golf on Holiday Island course. John enjoyed tremendously his retirement and all of the benefits of not holding a regular job. He did however work on many contracting jobs at Holiday Island and in the local vicinity. John was an extremely hard worker and literally “died with his boots on.” John loved being a friend to all he met and very much enjoyed meeting people and helping them in any way that he could. John knew no strangers and was a friend to all and known by most as Big John the tease. John loved to have fun with people but was always loving and kind. Judy and John were very active in their church from the time they were married. Their marriage was sealed in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple of the Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1964. They have held many callings and positions in the church over the last 50 years. John served as a basketball coach to the Youth for many years and was a great example to the boys that he worked with in the Youth program. Over the past 4 years Judy and John worked as volunteers in the St. Louis, MO Temple. They made many great friends there and enjoyed the work tremendously. They have had a tremendous commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have been dedicated followers of His example. John was preceded in death by his mother and father, brother Douglas Rauber and his sister Shirley Ann Rauber. John is survived by oldest brother Alan Rauber and his dedicated and loving wife of 50 years, Judy, his son Stephen Rauber of Parker, KS and his daughters Leslie Jennings of Paola, KS, and Ann McNeil of Prairie Village, KS, grandchildren Jake, Blake and Allie Jennings, Rachel, Keli, Meagan, Stephanie, Emily and Isaac Rauber, Ryan, Karly and Tessa McNeil, and great-grandchildren Aubrey and Jonathan. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 8, from 6:00-8:00 PM at Mt. Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO. There will be another viewing prior to funeral services on Wednesday, June 9, from 9:00-10:30 AM, with funeral services following at 11:00 AM, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 28750 North Hospital Drive, Paola, KS, 66071. Arrangements under the direction of Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.