Ann Rausch, 85, of Benton Harbor, went to meet her Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at Caretel Inns of St. Joseph.
A Celebration of Eternal Life will be held 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 1965 Broadway Ave., Benton Harbor, with Rev. Nathan Buch officiating. Friends may visit with the Family beginning at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday at the Church. Private burial will take place at a later date at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Jenera, Ohio. Memorial donations in Ann’s name may be made to Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Michigan Lutheran High School, Martin Luther College or Michigan Lutheran Seminary. Those wishing to sign Ann’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Ann was born October 8, 1940 in Winona, Minnesota to Rev. Herbert & Alice Kesting. On June 7, 1963, she married George Rausch in Gibbon, Minnesota. Ann began her long teaching career at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in New Ulm, MN. After she and George moved to Michigan, she taught for several years at New Salem Lutheran School in Sebewaing, MI. In 1965, they then moved to Benton Harbor where Ann taught at Good Shepherd Lutheran School and served as Church Secretary, and later served as the librarian at Lake Michigan Catholic High School. Ann earned her Bachelor Degree and her Master’s Degree from Western Michigan University. Ann was a long-time member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church where she served as organist and the accompanist for the Church Choir. Music was a large part of her life. She gave piano lessons for many students over the years. In her free time, Ann enjoyed reading, mystery novels being her favorite. She also cherished the time spent with her loving family and her many friends at Church.
Ann is survived by her husband George; her children Sheryl (Rev. David) Birsching of Clare, MI, Lance (Vicki) Rausch of Stevensville, Dawn (Bradley) Bird of Duluth, MN, Todd Rausch of Waukesha, WI; grandchildren-Christian (Dani) Birsching, Craig (Brittany) Birsching, Caleb Birsching, Kelsey Birsching, Seth Birsching, Cody Birsching, Ellen (Connor) Dillahunty, Wyatt Bird, Sam Bird, Leah (Sam) Engle, Levi Rausch; great-grandchildren-Cooper, Cole, Cohen, Hope, Elijah, and one on the way; siblings-Avis (Dennis) Bleick of Two Rivers, WI, William (Ellen) Kesting of Boltonville, WI, Michael (Louise) Kesting of Appleton, WI; numerous nieces & nephews; and sister-in-law Elaine Steffen. Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her granddaughter Jenna Bird, her sister Deborah Ristow, and her father-in-law & mother-in-law Walter & Dorothy (Basinger) Rausch, brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law-Robert (Dorothy) Rausch & Doris (Carl) Webb.
Posted On: Friday, May 1, 2026 10:44 AM
