Danny Rausch

Danny Joe Rausch, known affectionately as “Butch” by friends and family, went to his eternal home on November 19, 2025 at Journey Home (hospice) in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He was 77. His passing was peaceful, and he was surrounded by his family. His death followed a recent hip fracture and many years living with Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

He was born on December 6, 1947 in Chanute, Kansas, the eldest of two children, to Leo and Francis (Trent) Rausch. He graduated from Chanute Senior High School in 1965. He married the love of his life, Sherry Bailey, on June 29, 1969 at First Methodist Church in Chanute. Following multiple generations of Rausch men in the military, Danny served in the Kansas National Guard.

He worked for Charles “Bud” Ross at Kustom Electronics for eight years, first in Chanute and then in Las Vegas, where he and Sherry lived for a year. In 1973, Danny went to work for UPS, where he would work as a package delivery driver for the next 30 years. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Danny and Sherry lived in Chanute, Erie, Parsons, and then Mound Valley, Kansas, during these years. After his retirement in 2003, Danny and Sherry moved to Casa Grande, Arizona. In 2021, they returned to Kansas so they could be closer to friends and family, finally settling down in Independence.

Danny loved buying and trading automobiles, and he was proud to say that he had owned more than 100 cars during his lifetime. He also enjoyed camping, boating, water skiing, playing cards, bowling, listening to ‘60s pop music, and watching old episodes of Gunsmoke. He was an avid sports fan and rooted for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, and KU Jayhawks basketball.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sherry, and his two children Cyndee Timmerman and Andrew Rausch (and his wife Kristin). He is also survived by a sister, Sherri Watson. Danny had six grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

He was a member of First Christian Church in Independence at the time of his passing.

Danny will be missed by everyone who knew him.

A celebration of life will be held at the First Christian Church (319 W. Laurel Street, Independence, Kansas) on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. There will be a visitation at 10 a.m., with the services following at 10:30 a.m. There will be a family meal at the church immediately afterwards. The service will be officiated by Danny and Sherry’s long-time friend and pastor, Kevin Mote.

Donations can be made to The Journey Home, 900 NE Washington Blvd., Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 74006. (Write “in memory of Dan Rausch” in the check memo space.) Donations can also be made directly to their website: thejourneyhomeok.org.

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