Cathy L. Rauch, 66, passed away peacefully and painlessly, April 26, 2018.

Due to her father being a member of the United States Army, Cathy was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, on New Year’s Eve of 1951. Before she was a month old, Cathy and her 20-year-old mother made the trip to Indiana. Her father soon followed to Indiana.

After some moves within the state, they finally settled in the Brookston and Chalmers area due to her father’s work at Ross Gear and also farming. Cathy ended up being the eldest of five children, and she was expected to help care for her younger siblings.

The day after graduating from Frontier High School at 17 years old, she went to work at State Farm Insurance Company in West Lafayette. Cathy was at State Farm for nearly 38 years, working her way through the ranks to become a senior fire underwriter in personal lines, which handles homes, boats, jewelry, and other like items. She had 40 agents sending applications to her from the Fort Wayne area, which is one of the busiest spots in the state. Cathy became known as the Queen of the Underwriters, with a reputation for being tough, but fair.

In November of 1985, she met her future husband. They both have always jokingly said they picked each other up in a bar. Don was playing drums in a band at Ho-Jo’s (Howard Johnson’s) on 26 East of Lafayette. He saw her apparently staring at him, so after the gig, Don went to her to introduce himself. Ironically, while they were talking together, for the first time, she told all the other guys who were hitting on her that Don was her husband!

After four years of dating, they were brave enough to tie the knot on April 14, 1990. The union was marital bliss for 28 years, and they produced a son, Cale, who was born December 20, 1991. The family of three took many trips together, usually gravitating towards many several beaches in Florida, with Fort Myers being a favorite.

Cathy was one of those rare people with a combination of intelligence (Don always told her she would make a dandy lawyer), grace, kindness, humor, class, thoughtfulness, and fair mindedness. She will be greatly missed by everyone who ever knew her.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the entire staff at St. Mary Healthcare and Viaquest Hospice for giving Cathy compassionate and expert attendance, which certainly could not have been surpassed anywhere else.

Cathy is preceded in death by her father, Melvin R.T. Blake, and brother, Eddie Joe Blake.

Surviving along with her husband and son are her mother, Martha (Jackman) Blake; step-son, Daniel Rauch; step-daughter, Carissa Reese (husband: Michael); sisters, Carol Thompson (husband: Jerry), Carmen Weiderhaft (Jack Platt); brother, Jimmy Blake (wife: Julie). Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Friends may call from 10:30-12:30 AM (EST) with Funeral Service starting at 1:00 PM (EST) Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home of Brookston. Interment to follow in Brookston IOOF Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Cathy’s name to American Legion Post 492 (P.O. Box 2015, West Lafayette, 47906). Envelopes will be made available at the funeral home.

Share memories and condolences online at www.clapperfuneralservices.com.