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Lance G. Rautzhan

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Lance Rautzhan Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Jan. 10, 2016.

Lance G. Rautzhan, 63, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., passed from this life into eternal life Saturday at home with his wife, Crystal, and daughter, Jaime, by his side.

Born in Pottsville, Aug. 20, 1952, Lance was a son of Martha Sterner and the late William Rautzhan Sr.

In addition to his father, Lance was preceded in death by his brother, William Rautzhan Jr.

Lance was a member of the Blue Mountain High School, Class of 1970; after leaving high school, he was drafted in the third round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lance pitched in the 1977 and 1978 World Series. While playing baseball, Lance also served in the Coast Guard Reserves.

After his baseball career, Lance owned and operated Rautzhan's Crossroads Hotel, Adamsdale.

Due to his avid love of golf and warm weather, he and Crystal relocated to Myrtle Beach in 2003. Lance last worked for Prestige Homes, Myrtle Beach.

Lance was a proud member of the Blue Mountain High School Sports Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Allen-Rogowicz Chapter Sports Hall of Fame and, in November 2014, surrounded by family and friends, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

Lance was by far the definition of a great husband, father and friend as evidenced by the many people that supported him during his eight-year battle with cancer. He celebrated life daily and will never be forgotten.

In addition to his best friend and loving wife of 22 years, Crystal K. Rautzhan, Lance is survived by two dedicated and loving children, his son, Lance W. Rautzhan, husband of Megan, and his daughter, Jaime Rautzhan Clemas, wife of Joseph; brothers, Brian Rautzhan, husband of Terry, Gregory Rautzhan, husband of Denise; sister-in-law, Kendal, wife of the late William Rautzhan Jr.; two grandsons, whom he absolutely adored, Ryan and Landon Clemas; nieces, nephews and many wonderful friends.

Condolences may be sent to wife, Crystal, at 2472 Covington Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579 and/or his son, Lance, and daughter, Jaime, at 73 W. Second Mountain Road, Pottsville, PA 17901. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.

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Recent Activity

April 19, 2016

jane incorvaia posted to the memorial.

January 20, 2016

Mr & Mrs John Alfred Elchisak & Family posted to the memorial.

January 20, 2016

Dave Byroade posted to the memorial.

63 Entries

jane incorvaia

April 19, 2016

I had the pleasure of meeting Lance, in Atlanta, when he was the Dodgers...what a truly nice man....I was sorry to hear of his passing...prayers to his family.....

Mr & Mrs John Alfred Elchisak & Family

January 20, 2016

Please accept our deepest sympathies.
You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Dave Byroade

January 20, 2016

The Rautzhan Family,
Sorry for your loss. Lance and I played in the minor leagues together, in fact were roommates in 1970 in Ogden and signed by the same scout Ed Liberatore. I met Lance's son in Baltimore several years ago and we shared our experiences. He was a great guy and athlete. RIP Lance

Alan McGraw

January 20, 2016

Crystal, please except my deepest sympathy for you and your family I am sorry for your loss. Alan McGraw Marriott Board Member Ocean Watch.

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January 15, 2016

One of Blue Mt's finest - great guy - from a great family....God Bless!!!
Roger & Teena Koperna

Debbie Robinson

January 14, 2016

Dear Crystal,
We are shocked and saddened by the news of Lance's passing. We know no expression of sympathy--no matter how deeply felt-- can help much right now, but our thoughts and prayers are with you. Maynard and Debbie Robinson

January 14, 2016

So sorry for your loss. Lance was a good person.

The Killian Family

Craig Darosh

January 13, 2016

May God bless your families in your time of loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

January 13, 2016

Very sorry to hear of Lance's passing.
Greg Frantz

Lisa and Mike Habowski

January 13, 2016

Dear Crystal and Family,
We were so sorry to learn about Lance's passing. He was a great guy. May memories help to sustain you during this difficult time. Prayers.

January 13, 2016

I am so sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in what is recorded in the Bible at Jeremiah 29:11 and 12.

Sandy Huntzinger

January 12, 2016

Crystal and family,
So sorry to hear of Lance's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and hope your memories will help ease your pain. I have many happy memories of Lance and the great times we had at the Cross Roads.

Rits Ricciardi

January 12, 2016

My condolences to the family in the loss of a great man. May u treasure him in your hearts always!

Michelle gaughan martz

January 12, 2016

Sorry for your loss Crystal and lances family, my thoughts and prayers are with you you all!!

Aunt Sylvia Nabholz

January 12, 2016

Jaime and family, I am so very, very sorry for your heartbreaking loss.

Lydia and Lorraine Grim-Grube and Peifley

January 12, 2016

Wishing Rautzhan Family condolences from the Grim Family. Remember Lance as he grew up in the neighborhood. Excited when he played in Albuquerque for the Dukes.

Beverly and Joe Onuskanich

January 12, 2016

To Rautzhan families,
Sorry for your loss. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.

Terri Willard

January 12, 2016

I am so sorry for your loss.

January 12, 2016

I am sorry to hear that Lance passed away. What a great guy. He will never be forgotten at Blue Mountain High School. He was a great athletic and person. He had ability, leadership and determination. He showed mental toughness through his baseball career which carried on into his later years. He will be missed by our family. Coach Allen Greenawalt

Eileen (Kistler) Rubart

January 12, 2016

So sorry to hear the news of Lance's passing. What a great guy and a great addition to Blue Mt.'s sports history. RIP, Lance.

Jim and Judy Muldowney

January 11, 2016

Crystal,
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies. Our thoughts are with you and the Rautzhan Family Lance was a true fighter and was so lucky to have such a wonderful wife and family by his side. May you be blessed with comfort and strength during this most difficult time.
Sincerely,

Jim Fidirici

January 11, 2016

Crystal, Jaime,and Lance so sorry for your loss. Lance was a friend to all, always smiling, one of the very best. RIP Clarence.

Will Kistler

January 11, 2016

Prayers for all of you. I recall as a kid watching him play ball and hoping to be like him. He was a good inspiration.

Al & Jane(Miller) Scott

January 11, 2016

Jane and I are saddened to learn of Lance's passing. Here's a little story for you from early in his baseball career. When Lance showed up playing Little League in Cressona, my dad Albert Scott said, "If that kid doesn't get hurt, he's going all the way to the major leagues!" I never heard Dad say that about anyone but Lance. Although I'm older and never caught Lance in a game, he pitched to me in practices and I can still remember how smooth he was and the way his left handed pitches would tail away just off the plate. What a talent and a great guy to have known.

Susan Michaels

January 11, 2016

Love and prayers to the entire Rautzhan family.

Joann Brennan

January 11, 2016

So sorry to hear of your loss. The family Rautzhan is such a great family, I'm sure your are surrounded with love and support

Wayne and Mary Lammie

January 11, 2016

Our sincere sympathy.

Deb Massari onest

January 11, 2016

So very sorry to hear about Lance. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Deb Massari Onest, and Bob Massari and family.

Mark Giamarino

January 11, 2016

My deepest condolences.

Gregory Lieberman

January 11, 2016

So sorry for your loss, The Liebermans send along our deepest condolences along with prayers for healing.

Ben Heck

January 11, 2016

Words cannot express the sorrow I feel for your loss. Please accept my condolences.

Carole Kutzler

January 11, 2016

Greg and family,
So sorry for the loss of your brother. May you find comfort in the special memories you have within your heart.

Derrick Hedrick

January 11, 2016

Great man .. I'm sorry for your loss Lance will be truly missed by everyone

Doyle Dietz

January 11, 2016

Crystal, my most sincere sympathy to you and Lance's extended family. I am blessed to have written about him during his high school, minor league and major league careers. He was a true professional as an athlete and a man.

James Kauffman

January 11, 2016

I went to High school with Lance. I was in many of his classes, but did not know him well. I will say this, he not only excelled in athletics, but also in perseverance (I remember him practicing alone in the gym, shooting set/jump shots from deep in the corner at a time when the concept of a 3-point shot was far in the future). In my opinion, his most admirable quality was that, in spite of his athletic ability and high school celebrity, he never acted above the rest. Perhaps it is because he knew what he wanted to be, and knew of the challenges ahead to become a professional athlete. Congratulation to his accomplishments and regrets in his loss.

Tom Rairdon

January 11, 2016

RIP, Lance. You were always a class act and so kind to those you encountered. Peace to you and your family.

January 11, 2016

Leslie,Amy, Brian, Terri, Martha and the rest of the family . . . .I am so sorry to hear of "Uncle Lance". During childhood years there was hardly a family fuction I was not a part of and I have many fond memories of Lance.Prayers are with you all during this time. Love, Stacey (Humenansky) Worgen

Sharon O'Donnell

January 11, 2016

I am so sorry for your loss. I didn't know him well, but I do know that everyone loved him. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Bill Hill

January 11, 2016

I played Little League with Lance, I still think of him pitching in the World Series against the New York Yankees. He will be missed.

January 11, 2016

Thoughts and prayers to the family.RIP Lance.

Myron and Gretchem

Ellen Kirby

January 11, 2016

Love and prayers to Crystal and the entire Rautzhan family..... Lance was truly a class act! We have lost one of the best here on earth but heaven gained a wonderful angel! Love and prayers from Ellen Kirby and family .

Carol Brinsko

January 11, 2016

Crystal and family my deepest sympathies to you all. He's not suffering anymore. Him and Fran will have fun watching the games together.prayers love and (((hugs)))

Rajka/Igor Osim

January 10, 2016

You will be missed!!!

Marie Wilson

January 10, 2016

Crystal, Jaime and Lance - So very sorry for your loss. He was truly one of the greatest men ever. May you all find comfort and strength in each other and your memories! Praying for you all! Marie and Sissy Wilson

Tammy DiCello-Carannante

January 10, 2016

I am truly sorry for the loss of an amazing man. He treated me like his own and I loved him like a father. Lance, Jaime, Crystal I am so sorry.

Doris Riegel

January 10, 2016

SO SORRY TO HEAR OF LANCE'S PASSING. PRAYERS TO HIS FAMILY AND ALL OF OUR CLASSMATES FROM CLASS OF '70. YOU WILL BE MISSED.

Karen Eichert Young

January 10, 2016

I'm so sorry to hear Lance lost his battle against cancer. My thoughts & prayers go out to his family. (He was a 1970 BMHS classmate.)

Beth Aiello

January 10, 2016

Crystal,
I am so sorry for your loss. Lance was really a special guy, and you both had a beautiful love. He really made your light shine brighter. Sending you prayers and lots of love.

Crystal and Brian Rabenold

January 10, 2016

So sorry for your loss Crystal. You are in our prayers.

Deb, Jake and Jacob Gogno

January 10, 2016

C,
So very sorry. He will always be your bestest buddy. Words can not express our sincerest sympathy to you and your family. Your love, commitment and dedication to Lance is so admirable. You are amazing. Sincerely, The Gognos.

Fred Bender

January 10, 2016

I cherish all my childhood memories growing up as a friend of Lance. One memory is him introducing all of the Dodgers teammates to my 86 year old father in law at spring training game in St Petersburg. Even gave him a signed baseball. All this for a man he had just met. Lance a Gentlemen of all times.

Sue Kirby

January 10, 2016

Very sorry for loss.

Tom Hammer

January 10, 2016

My condolences go out to the family.I knew Lance for years and always got along great with him.Sad to hear we lost a good man. May peace find the hearts of his family

Rex Hudson

January 10, 2016

It was my pleasure to have known you during our time with the Dodgers. Rest in peace my friend.

Janice Yashinsky Davies

January 10, 2016

So very sorry for your loss Crystal. Keep all your memories close to your heart. My sincere condolences

Marlin & Gere Rautzhan

January 10, 2016

Condolences from extended Rautzhans, Marlin and Gere

Mark Carini

January 10, 2016

Rest peacefully my friend, I am a better person having known you.

Carol Purnell-Kenenitz

January 10, 2016

So sorry for your loss Crystal. Sending prayers

Joe Clemas

January 10, 2016

Pop Pop and Father In Law. I just sat here this morning and read this to your grandsons. We are all crying together so sad you had to go but yet happy you are no longer in pain from cancer anymore. I was so very proud to talk to others about you when they would find out we were related. Many times it was about your times playing for the Dodgers but it was more often of how much of a great person you were in life. I have never met a person in life like yourself who had so many friends. I'm forever grateful for the day you gave me permission to marry Jaime. I'm also so glad you were here to share in the life of your 2 grandsons Ryan and Landon. I know you loved and adored them with all your heart. They loved you so much and could not wait to see you and Mimi when you would come here.And they for sure could not wait to come to your house in Myrtle Beach. They have memories with you that some kids may never had with a grandparent. We will think about you everyday and carry with us the love you had for in our hearts forever. Jaime,Ryan,Landon and I love you so much. We lost you here with us but you just made Heaven one hell of a better place...

January 10, 2016

prayers are with you . god bless Ed Folk and Dottie Hardock

Heather Szalku

January 10, 2016

Sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

Cholly Shields

January 10, 2016

A great loss. I had the privledge of playing both baseball and football with Lance at Blue Mountain High School. In addition to his awesome athletic ability in both sports, Lance was always a great leader and mentor to the other players. My dad, Charlie Shields, who coached us both in football, always remarked that he considered Lance to be one of the finest and classiest sportsmen he encountered during his coaching career.

Michael Vance

January 10, 2016

Prayers to the Rautzhan family! Lance was a business associate of mine but it was always clear our friendship was more important! A terrific man, indeed!

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