Dorothea N. Rau passed away peacefully Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, at Trinity Village in Hickory. Dorothea was born March 31, 1925 as the 10th child of the Lutheran minister, Christian Rau and his wife, Frieda, in Wildberg, Germany. Dr. Rau received her master’s degree in special education from the U. of Mississippi and her PhD from the U. of Illinois. She returned to Germany to take the lead in developing a mental retardation program in Stetten. Among Dr. Rau’s professional accomplishments was the establishment of the Lutheran Association for Special Education (LASE) program in St. Louis, Mo. She expanded the program to offer a wide range of services to over 200 children in 12 different locations. Dr. Rau taught at ASU from 1979 to 1992, focusing on developing instructional methods for special needs children. In honor of her enormous contribution in this area, the Reich College of Education named this the “Dr. Dorothea Rau Department of Reading Education and Special Education.” Dr. Rau has been a faithful member of Christ Lutheran, Hickory, for over 35 years. She enjoyed teaching Sunday School. She has been an inspiration and a blessing to so many. She was a humble, gracious, loving Christian woman. Dorothea is survived by her 3 godchildren, Hans-Martin Hauff, Johannes Rau, and Friederike Albrecht and many nephews and nieces in Germany, whom she prayed for daily. The funeral will be held at Christ Lutheran Church on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 1:00 pm with Rev. Dr. David Ludwig and Rev. Richard Schwandt officiating. The receiving will be at 12:30 before the service. The committal will take place afterward at Woodlawn Cemetery, Blowing Rock. Memorials can be given to Christ Lutheran, 324 2nd Ave. SE, Hickory, NC 28602 or to LASE (www.lutheranspecialed.org). Online condolences may be left at www.hickoryfh.com. Arrangements are with Hickory Funeral Home.
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