George W. Raub

George W. Raub was born on February 17, 1924 and died on October 27, 2011 at the age of 87. Death was as a result of lung cancer. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Arlene. Additionally, he is survived by his son, Paul, daughter-in-law, Andrea and two granddaughters, Alexa and Sophia, all of Walnut Creek, California. He is also survived by his sister Mary Alice McCleary of Davenport, Iowa. In addition to his sister, he is survived by his sisters-in-law and brothers-in- law, Dale and Dora Root of Sun City West; Dallas and Pat Root of Des Moines, Iowa; and Carol Raub of Muscatine, Iowa. He is survived by numerous nephews and nieces and many cousins. Preceding him in death were his parents, Clarence and Ethel Raub, his brothers Arthur and Stanley and his wife, Rozella , his sister Lorraine and her husband Maurice Ball, and Kenneth McCleary, his brother-in- law. George was also preceded in death by his son, Jay. George was born in Muscatine County, Iowa and attended Sweetland township school. He worked on his father’s farm during his youth and at 17 went to work at the Rock Island Arsonal in Rock Island, Illinois. In February, 1943, George joined the Marine Corps and underwent boot camp at the Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. Following boot camp, he took further training as a Marine paratrooper. The Marine paratroopers were disbanded and George was assigned to the First Marine Division. He then went overseas where he saw combat as a squad leader for an 81 millimeter mortar platoon on New Guinea, Cape Gloucester New Britain, Peleliu, and Okinawa. Immediately following the war, he and the rest of the First Division were sent to Northern China to accept surrender of the Japanese Army stationed there. As he once recalled, he always thought it was odd to disarm the Japanese one day, then, a few days later re-arm them with American weapons to defend themselves against the Chinese. Following discharge in January, 1946, George attended the American Institute of Business located in Des Moines, Iowa. There he met his future wife, Arlene Root. Arlene and George were married on April 25, 1948 in her home town of Audubon, Iowa. At the time, George was working for Remington Rand, the shaver division. He was eventually transferred to Indiana in 1949. His son Paul was born on July 5, 1950 in Noblesville, Indiana, and Jay was born on December 17, 1953 in Indianapolis where George was the state sales manager for the shaver division of Remington Rand. George remained with Remington Rand in Indianapolis until September 1958. At that time he purchased a jewelry store in Audubon, Iowa, his wife’s home town. George owned and operated Raub Jewelry until his retirement in 1988. After the closing of the jewelry store, George and Arlene moved to Sun City, Arizona where they enjoyed golf and cards. George and Arlene also enjoyed traveling around the Western United States in their Chevy van which was christened, “VanGo.” They especially enjoyed their trips to Walnut Creek, California to visit their son and his family, and especially the granddaughters who George dearly loved. In mid-October of this year, George was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and his passing came quickly. George endured the pain he had and recognized his fate which he met with courage and determination, the way he lead his life.

Cemetery:
Inurnment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa.

Service:
Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends Tuesday evening at 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.