Rhoda I. Grauer (nee Lange), 89, of Cherokee and formerly of rural Marcus, Iowa passed away peacefully, Friday evening, April 26, 2019 at Accura Healthcare of Cherokee.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 1 ^st at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church at rural Marcus, Iowa. Pastor David Doellinger will officiate. Burial will be in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery at rural Marcus, Iowa. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. with the family present from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Rhoda was born on August 23, 1929 to Arthur and Clara (Plejdrup)Lange. She was delivered at her parents residence in Myra Valley near Ord ,Nebraska.  Her primary school years were spent attending St. John's Lutheran School in Ord.  She attended high school in Scotia Nebraska.  During this time she was active in the Future Homemakers of America and served as state president.  She attended Concordia Teachers College,(now known as Concordia University)in Seward Nebraska.

In college, Rhoda earned both a teaching and Lutheran teaching certificate. Her first call was to Trinity Lutheran School in rural Marcus. Here she met Vernon Grauer, and on September 2, 1951, they were married at the church.  Rhoda was active in the community.  She was active in the Walther League, Marcus Garden Club, Trinity Ladies Aid and LWML. She enjoyed showing at the Marcus Fair, growing and arranging flowers. For a time served as a flower show judge.  Rhoda  then decided to resume teaching. She taught fourth grade at St. John's School in Germantown, Ia. She went back to college and completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Concordia Seward.  She went on to teach in Marcus Community Schools.  She taught in fourth grade classrooms at Grand Meadow and Marcus. In her retirement Rhoda and Vernon enjoyed being members of the Emerald Club of Cherokee and traveled around the U.S. with this group.  Rhoda was also a member of the Marcus Quilters. She enjoyed quilting and attending Quilt Shows.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Vernon Grauer in 2017, her brothers Clarence, Robert and his wife Virginia, her sister Merna , and an infant sister, Mary Eleanor.

Survivors include two sisters: Alice Bartlett of Grand Island, NE, Margaret Kling of Los Angeles CA; one son and one daughter: Keith Grauer and his wife Linda of Cherokee, IA; Yvonne Wilson and her husband Jimmie of Omaha, NE; five grandchildren and 10 great grand children, and a host of nephews, nieces and cousins.

Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Concordia University, Orphan Grain Train or to Concordia University at https://www.cune.edu/giving/ .