Max Rauer '47

Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Posts: 256 Location: Longview, TX

Family members said longtime Iowa radio broadcaster and KCCI Local Sales Manager/Senior Account Executive Max Rauer has passed away. Funeral Services will be held at Dunn's Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 22, at 10 a.m. with burial to follow in the Masonic cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening April 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Dunn's Funeral Home.
Rauer was a media sales pioneer, civic ambassador, toastmaster extraordinaire for the city of Des Moines and one of Drake University’s most loyal sons. He had battled Alzheimer’s disease for some time and died residing at Ramsey Village in Des Moines. Rauer began his broadcasting career as a disc jockey in the 1950’s at KWDM radio and then went on to KSO radio where he also did play by play for many sporting venues including Des Moines Demons baseball, Iowa Maple and Oak Leafs hockey, Iowa Oaks baseball, Drake University football and basketball and University of Iowa football. While at KSO he became its News and Sports News Director. Max also announced at many automotive and cart racing events in the central Iowa area. Announcing for the Drake Bulldogs for more than 40 years, he also helped popularize the Drake Relays Most Beautiful Bulldog Contest and served on the Drake Relays Executive committee. Max worked at KCCI for 27 years before his retirement in 1993. Max was born in Des Moines, September 2, 1928 and died April 16, 2009. As a teenager, Max was a member of the birdland swimming pool lifeguarding team, and helped teach the Army WACS who were stationed in Des Moines during WW 2 to swim. He attended Kemper Military Academy in Missouri and then entered military service with the U.S. Air Corps shortly before the end of WWII. Recalled for the Korean Conflict, Max became a sergeant in the U.S. Army and saw combat, winning a bronze star and receiving two purple hearts. After Korea, Max finished at Drake University earning degrees in both English and Broadcasting.
He married Martha M. Ratliff of West Des Moines in December, 1951 and had two sons, Max Jr., who lives in Des Moines and Mike who lives in Colorado. He is survived by both his sons and two grandchildren, Hannah and Dalton who reside with Mike and wife Cathy in Colorado.
Max was heavily involved for decades with many charitable organizations, primarily serving as MC to fund-raising events and promotions of various community causes. Some of those include the Goodwill Tour train trips in the 1960’s, United Way Campaigns and Ducks Unlimited Benefits in the 1970’s amongst others.
His involvement with the West Des Moines Kiwanis helped lead to many annual celebrations of Dixieland Jazz festivals in Valley Junction.
He was also often drafted for honoring (or roasting) duties of many local celebrities, business community leaders and politicians. Some of those included former governors Robert Ray, Terry Brandstad, Bishop Dingman and Babe Bisignano.
Once asked what she believed to be Max’s greatest talent, his late wife Marty simply replied, "talking."

Published in the Des Moines Register 04/19/09