Lyle Rasch August 17, 1927 - November 26, 2020

Lyle Henry Rasch
August 17, 1927 – November 26, 2020

Weigel Funeral Home is assisting the family

Obituary Via Weigel Funeral Home

Lyle, 93, of Hamilton, Ohio passed away on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Lyle was born August 17, 1927 in Reedsburg, Wisconsin to Ella Frieda Matilda (Bowman) Rasch and Henry August Herman Rasch. Lyle grew up on a farm in rural Wonewoc. He had two brothers, Herbert and Leland, and one sister, Sharon. Leland and Sharon predeceased him. Lyle graduated from Wonewoc High School in 1945. Following, he attended Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, and graduated in 1949. He realized his dream of becoming a pastor in attending Bethany Lutheran Seminary in Mankato, Minnesota, where he graduated in 1952. Lyle received scholarships and earned his own way through college and seminary, working as cook and server on the Great Northern Trains Line and the Sioux Line, traveling from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Chicago. In two years he found his future wife, the late Anna Dankovich Rasch. Mutual friends of theirs, Mike and Anna Cervenak, introduced the two to each other. At the time, Lyle was Pastor of Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Warren, MI. The two were later married on January 16, 1954, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Detroit, Michigan. While in the Detroit area the couple had three children: Deborah Anne; Lyle Timothy; and David Mark. Next Lyle served Arlington Lutheran Church of Toledo, Ohio, beginning in 1959. He served there three years, leaving the Wisconsin Synod to join the Missouri Synod, when he was called to St. John Lutheran Church in Geneva, Ohio. The Rasches lived in Geneva, with Lyle serving St. John Lutheran from 1963 to 1968. He next served Christ Lutheran Church of Groesbeck, Ohio, from 1968 to 1995. Lyle and his wife Anne led tours for Educational Opportunities beginning in June 1978 through 2000, learning about history and other cultures and enjoying the companionship of fellow Lutherans and friends. They enjoyed traveling to Europe and the Middle East. Lyle made 25 trips to Israel. Lyle retired for three months, but then served five congregations in the Cincinnati area from October 1995 until March 2010 because he enjoyed the ministry: the Lutheran Church of Our Savior (Norwood), Royal Redeemer of West Chester, Immanuel (Hamilton, Ohio), Grace in Westwood (2 yrs. 3 mos.), and Trinity Lutheran in Peach Grove for nearly 8 years, where in March 2010 he fell after conducting a Lenten Service, requiring knee surgery. He was a pastor for 58 years. The knee surgery resulted with complications of MRSA, which caused his entry in July 2010 to Mercy Franciscan at Schroeder in Hamilton, Ohio, now Bradford Place. Anne had entered the facility earlier in the week; she died later that year on November 3. After Anne’s death, Lyle was given a choice to fuse or amputate the knee with MRSA. With further medical investigation, the family found a surgeon with a third approach. The result was that Lyle had a successful knee surgery in January of 2011. Lyle was able to maintain use of the leg with a brace. While in assisted living at Bradford Place, Lyle had conducted weekly Tuesday morning Bible studies for Immanuel members and Bradford residents, first at Immanuel Lutheran Church, and in later years in a meeting room at Bradford. Lyle often had fourteen people in his weekly class; he loved studying the Bible and learning. Lyle was devoted to his family. The separation from them during 2020’s COVID was especially difficult. He communicated with family via phone once he was moved to the skilled nursing area in July 2020. He always mentioned his faith and how he prayed for each family member daily. Lyle is survived by his three children: Deborah (Philip), Timothy (Nancy) and David (Sharon), six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

FRIENDS MAY CALL AT WEIGEL FUNERAL HOME, 980 N. W. Washington Blvd, Hamilton, OH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020 from 2-5 p.m. A private funeral service will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1285 Main St. Hamilton, OH 45013, with Pastor Kevin Jud officiating. The recorded service will be available at the Immanuelhamiltonchurch.com website afterwards. Remembrances may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church.