Sherry Rausch

Sherry A. Rausch, age 54 of Melrose, passed away unexpectedly surrounded by family on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at the CentraCare Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, November 11, 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Mitchell Bechtold officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Monday at the church. Parish prayers will be at 5:45 p.m. Sunday evening. 

Sherry Ann Froelich was born on July 22, 1970, in Melrose, Minnesota to Harriet (Middendorf) Froelich. She graduated from Melrose High School in 1988. Sherry pursued a career in social work and graduated from Fergus Falls College in 1989. She was united in marriage to John “Jack” Rausch on September 14, 1991 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose. Sherry worked at Pope County as a social worker and most recently as a hospice volunteer coordinator for CentraCare. 

Sherry was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose.

Sherry enjoyed shopping, sports, and being a basketball coach for a brief time. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family, kids, and grandchildren. Recently, her hospice co-workers described Sherry as “An amazing person. The team was lucky to have her coordinate our volunteer program. She was creative and had a relentless dedication to her patients and volunteers.” 

Sherry was loved dearly by her husband, Jack and their three daughters, their spouses, and grandchildren. She was a “Kick-Ass Mom”. She leaves behind many Godchildren, nieces, and nephews who knew they could always talk to Sherry, and she would be there for them.

Survivors include her husband, John “Jack” Rausch of Melrose; children, Shayla (Ricky) Frie of Greenwald, Madison (Matthew) Schnaare of Waconia, and Haiden (Brendan) Crayne of Superior, WI; three grandchildren; Ronan and Reylene Frie, and Baylor Schnaare; mother, Harriet Froelich of Melrose; sisters and brother, Karen (Kevin) Wensmann of Melrose, Amy Tschida (Frank Helmin) of Grey Eagle, and Todd Froelich (Sandy Joiner) of Paynesville; in-laws, Nancy Rausch of Melrose, William (Joyce) Rausch of Melrose, Ken (Nancy) Rausch of Prior Lake, Dave (Jean) Rausch of Hartselle, AL, and Tom (Sharon) Rausch of Hiawasee, GA; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. 

Sherry was preceded in death by her grandparents, Henry and Loretta Middendorf; parents-in-law, Wendell and Helen Rausch; brother-in-law, James “Jim” Rausch, and infant sister-in-law, Ann Rausch.