Alice Marie Rauchholz

Alice Rauchholz passed away Monday, June 1, 2015, after a battle with cancer. She was 74 years old. Alice Marie Diener was born in Merrill, Michigan October 10, 1940, the fifth of ten children to Fred and Caroline Diener. She graduated from Merrill High School and lived at the Diener family home until she married Frank Rauchholz May 19, 1962, moving to his family farm on Rauchholz Road in Hemlock, where she lived until her death. Alice and Frank lived near their families and shared many birthday parties, holidays, and family milestone events, allowing their five children to grow up closely with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Alice was an accomplished seamstress, sewing most of her clothes throughout high school, and designing and making her own wedding gown. Each of her daughters had a new dress for Christmas for many years, and she made clothes and gifts for her children, nieces, and grandchildren. Alice was quietly creative, not only designing and sewing clothes for her family but for several years she also baked and decorated many special event cakes for family and friends: confirmation cakes, graduation cakes, and wedding cakes. Alice was most proud of her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling with them and we have many fond memories of trips all over the country, Europe, a Disney cruise to the Bahamas, and most recently she attended the wedding of her grandson in North Carolina. She often said "I just go where my kids tell me to go". Alice was preceded in death by her husband Frank, who died after his own battle with cancer in 1977; mother-in-law Marguerite Rauchholz; her parents Fred and Caroline Diener; sisters Lois Wietfeldt and Florence Dittmar; sisters-in-law Rose Diener and Joyce Diener; and brothers Larry, August, and Ralph Diener. As home builders, we expect Larry, August, and Ralph have been lovingly and harmoniously at work on her mansion in Heaven. Surviving Alice are her children Janet and Brian Austin of Apex, NC; Bill Rauchholz and Nicole King of Portland, OR; Jean and Randy Nabozny of Plymouth, MI; Laura and Tim Kilbride of Midland, MI; Dan Rauchholz of Dearborn, MI; grandchildren Brian Jr. and Emily Stephenson Austin of Washington, DC; Adam Austin of Apex, NC; Shannon, Joseph, and Hannah Kilbride in Midland, MI; and Anna, Caroline, and Emily Rauchholz in Portland, OR; sister Doris (Bill) Horneber, Bay City, MI; brothers Alvin (Sally) Diener, Saginaw, MI; Harold (Marlene) Diener, Freeland, MI; Ken (Carolyn) Diener, Merrillan, WI; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Alvin and Joyce Rauchholz, Hemlock, MI; sister-in-law Janet Diener, Midland, MI; brother-in-law Richard (Sally) Wietfeldt, Merrill, MI; many nieces and nephews and their spouses and children. Alice was a strong Christian woman and raised her family to be the same. After Frank's death, her family provided tremendous support as she raised her children in a stable, loving, Christian home. Many people have made a point to express their admiration for Alice as she raised her family without a husband, and how her gracious strength has inspired them. Her children were too young to appreciate all she went through at that time, but the example her extended family provided has impressed and affected them throughout their lives. The funeral service will take place 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 5, 2015, at St. John EV Lutheran Church, 2290 Pretzer Road, Hemlock, MI . Rev. Phil Bigelow will officiate with burial in St. John Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family at W. L. Case & Company, 201 N. Miller Rd. Thursday from 2:00 8:00 p.m. and Friday at church from 10:00 a.m. until time of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John EV Lutheran Church, 2290 Pretzer Road, Hemlock, MI.

Funeral Home:
W. L. Case and Company
201 North Miller Road
Saginaw, MI
United States 48609