Lawrence Rauch was born and raised on the family farm in Pecatonica, IL to Fred and Evelyn Rauch on July 4, 1936. He passed away on April 14, 2021. He graduated from Pecatonica High School and went to barber college in Peoria, IL. He owned his own business in Davis and Winnebago, IL until moving to Oklahoma in the early 1980s to be close to his daughter and family. Lawrence competed in golden glove boxing tournaments in his late teens and early 20s in Rockford, IL and surrounding areas. In 1964 he was married to Phyllis Peters and they had one daughter, Virginia. Phyllis had 3 children- Sharon, Dave, and Jim. He enjoyed coon hunting and trapping in Illinois and Wisconsin area. Lawrence had back surgery in 1978 and survived cancer in 1979. In 1980 he started training to compete in the senior Olympics in California. He captured his boxing division and took the gold. After moving to Oklahoma, he worked for McCoy Tree Service in Woodward and Enid. He owned a wheat farm in Kansas, and he drove the senior bus in Woodward until retiring. Lawrence was a member of the First United Methodist Church where he was baptized. After retirement, Lawrence and his buddy Curtis Kincaid started fishing together and they could tell some good fish tales. He also liked hanging out with the buddies for coffee at Sweet's Quickstop daily. He enjoyed pool tournaments at Buddie's Bar. He loved running 5K races and has won many medals. He ran foot races until he was in his mid 70s. If it wasn't for his back he would have still been running until the end. Lawrence loved watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren football games, baseball games, go kart racing and stock car racing thru the years. He even got to watch great grandson Matt's recent ball games this spring right up to the night he went in the hospital. Lawrence was full of life!!!

Lawrence is survived by his daughter Tootie (Randy) Shenberger, grandsons Mike (Chelsea) and Nick (Hayley) and great grandchildren Matt, Aurora, and Easton. One sister Virgie Lameyer and one brother Leroy Rauch and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Evelyn, three sisters Violet, Mae, and Darlene, several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family will have a memorial service at the First United Methodist Church at 1111 Downs Avenue in Woodward, OK on Monday, April 19, at 10:00 A.M.. Lawrence will be buried with his parents at Pecatonica, IL at a future date.