Dr. Rev. Carl C. Rasche

Rev. Dr. CARL C. RASCHE, 94

LAKELAND - The Rev. Dr. Carl C. Rasche, President Emeritus of Deaconess Hospital, St. Louis, MO, died of natural causes October 21, 2011 at his home in Lakeland, FL. He was 94 years old.
He was born in Wheeling, WV, in 1917, the youngest of three sons of the Rev. August and Theodora Rasche. He moved to St. Louis as a boy when his father became the pastor of St. Peter's Evangelical and Reformed Church. He attended Farragut Grade School and Beaumont High School in St. Louis, then Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, IL, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in 1939. He went on to study social work at Northwestern University in Chicago, then earned a Bachelor of Divinity at Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, MO. He was ordained into the ministry in 1943. In later years, he was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from Elmhurst College and a Doctor of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary, both in recognition of his many contributions to his profession and the faith.
He began his career serving as the Pastor and Superintendent of the church and settlement house known as Caroline Mission, located on Hickory Street near 18th Street in St. Louis, a position he accepted while still pursuing his studies at Eden Seminary. It was during this time that he also met and married his beloved wife, Ruth Elizabeth (nee Weltge) Rasche, to whom he was married for 67 years. She preceded him in death on April 14, 2010.
In 1948, he was called to serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Deaconess Hospital. He led the thriving 500-bed facility for 34 years until his retirement as President Emeritus in 1982. He also served as Chaplain of Deaconess Hospital for 12 years, then Pastor and Associate Pastor of the Deaconess Hospital United Church of Christ Chapel. After his retirement, he and Ruth became members of the First Congregational Church of St. Louis.
Throughout his professional career, he served in numerous leadership roles including President of the American Protestant Hospital Association, President of the Council for Health and Welfare of the United Church of Christ, President of the Hospital Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Chairman of the Missouri Hospital Association, Chairman of the Missouri Professional Liability Insurance Association, Director of Providers Insurance Company, Vice-Chairman of Harris-Stowe College, Secretary of the St. Louis Blue Cross Plan, and Adjunct Instructor for the Washington University Graduate Program in Health Care Administration. He additionally provided leadership to the Regional Transplant Association, the Mayor's Committee to Study St. Louis City Hospitals, the Good Samaritan Home, and the Christian Medical College and Hospital in Vellore, South India. He received Distinguished Service Awards from the Missouri Hospital Association and from the United Church of Christ Council for Health and Welfare Services. He was honored at his retirement celebration by Mayor Vincent Schoemehl, who declared it Carl C. Rasche Day in St. Louis.
He is survived by his three daughters, Ruth Ellen Rasche of Gainesville, FL, Lisa Rasche Qualman of Old Bridge, NJ, and Dr. Christine E. Rasche of Jacksonville, FL; son-in-law, the Rev. William A. Qualman; two grandchildren, Sarah and Matthew Qualman; one great-grandchild, Gabriel; one sister-in-law, Dorothy E. Zink of Grand Ledge, MI; two brothers-in-law, Dr. William H. Weltge of Dayton, OH, and the Rev. Ralph W. Weltge of Philadelphia; and 12 nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held for Rev. Rasche October 24 at the Carpenter's Estates, and an interment service will be held later at St. Peter's Cemetery in St. Louis.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to: The United Church Neighborhood Houses, 5621 Delmar Blvd. Suite 104, St. Louis, MO 63112; the Deaconess Foundation, 1 Metropolitan Sq. #1260, St. Louis, MO 63102; the First Congregational Church, 6501 Wydown Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63105; or the Vellore Christian Medical College, Vellore, India 632004.