Zelda Rauch, 80 of Homestead in Oskaloosa and formerly of New Sharon, passed away Saturday morning, March 9, 2024 at the Cottages of Pella. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at the West Liberty Church of Christ west of Montezuma. Burial will be held in the West Liberty Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 1:00 pm Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home of New Sharon with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the West Liberty Church of Christ or the West Liberty Cemetery Fund. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of New Sharon is in charge of arrangements.

Zelda June Rauch, the daughter of Joseph and Allie (Hicks) Butcher, was born on June 22, 1943 near Taintor, Iowa. She attended school at New Sharon and What Cheer. On June 28, 1959, Zelda was united in marriage to LaVone Rauch at the New Sharon Assembly of God Church. To this union two sons were born, Jeffrey and Darin. Zelda was a homemaker for a short time before working at the New Sharon Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for nearly 20 years. She then babysat in New Sharon for over 40 years. Babysitting was her passion and she had the privilege to babysit most of the children in the New Sharon and surrounding areas along with all of her grandchildren. Zelda enjoyed cooking, going on car rides, listening to her police scanner, visiting her family in Missouri, writing poems and taking her grandchildren in the middle of the night to eat breakfast at Interstate. She moved to Homestead in Oskaloosa in May of 2018 and was the head of the resident's food committee. She looked forward to her weekly visits from Roger and Vivian Robinson where they kept her up to date by bringing her the New Sharon News and current obituaries from New Sharon residents. Zelda was a faithful member of the West Liberty Christian Church for many years.

Her memory is cherished by her two sons, Jeff (Aleta) Rauch of Pella and Darin (Cindy) Rauch of Elgin, IA; 11 grandchildren, Nichol (Jason) Ohnemus, Nathan (Erica) Rauch, Lucas (Angela) Rauch, Drew (Shelby) Rauch, Jason (Kelly) Rauch, David (Amanda) Richards, Eric (Jody) Richards, Jodi (Mike) Phillips, Justin Enderes, Wade (Lea) Enderes and Sara Enderes; 18 great grandchildren, Jacob, Jadon, Sidney, Sophia, Cecilia, Klara, Kelson, Abby, Mason, Natalie, Clayton, Taylor, Bennett, Theo, Genevieve, Hollyn, Kai, and Nova; a great-great granddaughter, Kimora; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Zelda was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, LaVone Rauch and six siblings, Ralph Bunch, Farrell Butcher, Gertrude Schmidt, Dean Butcher, Dale Butcher and Randy Butcher.