Carmen Kay Raasch, 74, of the Town of Washington, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, at Shawano Health Services with her family by her side.
Carmen was born Feb. 6, 1945, in Shawano, a daughter of the late Vilas and Hildegard (Krueger) Rades. She is a Shawano High School graduate.
In her younger years, Carmen helped out at the bowling alley her family owned on Main Street. After cleaning there so many times, Carmen wanted nothing to do with buying the business from her parents, so her brother took over.
On June 11, 1966, Carmen married the love of her life, Bernhardt “Ben” Raasch, at St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano. Shortly after their wedding they moved to Green Bay, and over the years moved to Oklahoma and Illinois, and back to Green Bay. They moved to Shawano when they retired.
Carmen worked several different jobs over the years. She worked in the bindery for the Shawano Leader and was a school bus driver for eight years for the Pulaski School District. While living in Oklahoma, Carmen worked at Knotty Pines BBQ, and at a nursing home while living in Illinois. She never let her family forget the good times working at Knotty Pines BBQ, as her whole family worked there to some extent.
Carmen enjoyed gambling, playing cards with her many card clubs, collecting purses and shoes, reading Danielle Steele books, and watching birds by the house. She loved camping with her family, and could always be found cooking them breakfast outside, no matter the weather. They camped at Hiles Pine Lake Campground since 1978. Carmen’s favorite thing was traveling with Ben. Two of her proudest moments were standing in four states at the same time, and going from Miami to the Alaskan Highway.
Left to cherish Carmen’s memory are her husband of 53 years, Ben; her children, Nick Raasch, Hillery (Lowel) Hammett, and Jamie (Olin) Gilliam; her grandchildren, Heather (Kairo) Gonzales, Kelsey Nicholas, Nathan and Dustin Raasch, Zach Hammett, Whitley (Mark) Klein, and Austin and Ben Gilliam; great-grandchildren, Ezka and Alec Gonzales, Ayden Gilliam, Marcus and Sophia Klein, Kaidence Berry, and Korbyn and Caestin Raasch. She is further survived by her sister-in-law, Barb Rades; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. Carmen was preceded in death by her siblings, Duane (Bernadette) Rades, Ronald Rades and Vanice (Ernest) Buettner.
A prayer service for Carmen Kay Raasch was held on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, at 11 a.m. at Mickelson Funeral Service in Shawano. Burial will take place in Lake Drive Cemetery in the town of Wescott. Visitation began at 10 a.m. and continued until the time of service.
Mickelson Funeral and Cremation Service of Shawano is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences at www.mickelsonfs.com.
The family extends a special thank you to the staff of Shawano Health Services, DaVita Northwoods Dialysis, and ThedaCare at Home Hospice for all the love and care they gave to Carmen.
Carmen K. Raasch
