Merle Raymond Rauscher Colonel USAF (Retired)

Merle “Bud” Raymond Rauscher of Cape Coral, FL passed away on August 25, 2016 at the Woodlands Assisted Living Facility following a long illness. He was the youngest of six siblings born to Charles E. Rauscher and Chloe Mae Rauscher (Ellis) on July 13, 1924 in Blossburg, PA. As a youngster he excelled at academics and was valedictorian of his Liberty, PA high school class. Following his graduation in 1942 he enlisted in the US Army and saw ground combat in northern France in 1944 and 1945, earning the Bronze Star. He returned stateside in 1946 and attended Penn State University where he majored in engineering, graduating in 1949. He would later earn a Masters in Engineering from Penn State in 1963. It was at Penn State in 1947 that he met his future wife, Irene. They were married for 65 years and she preceded him in death in 2015. After his graduation in 1949, Merle was commissioned in the US Air Force where he served for 27 years, retiring at the rank of Colonel. He served at many installations around the world including Germany, France and Hawaii. Merle and Irene moved to Knoxville, TN after his retirement where they lived for 32 years. They moved to Florida in 2013.

Merle had many hobbies and interests. He was an avid woodworker and always had a project going. He and Irene loved to travel and he was able to accomplish his goal of visiting all 50 states. He was a sports fan and enjoyed watching football, especially his beloved Penn State Nittany Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers. But his greatest joy was being a husband, father and grandfather. He was also a lifetime member of the American Legion, VFW, Retired Officers Association, Military Officers Association and the Air Force Association.

Merle is survived by his son, Kurt (Patricia) Rauscher, daughter Rebecca (Will) Ewart, grandsons Michael and Dan Rauscher, nephews David Kauffman, Dale Kauffman, Chuck Rauscher and Randy Segmiller and nieces Ruth Wood, Peggy White, Sandy Gardner and Shirley Fraley. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

A memorial service with full military honors will be held at Alto Reste Cemetery in Altoona, PA on October 15, 2016 at 1100.

Arrangements under the direction of Coral Ridge Funeral Home & Cemetery, Cape Coral, FL.