Leo Michael Rauterkus

January 01, 1970

Leo Michael Rauterkus
Age 89, passed away peacefully on November 8, 2020, at Passavant Retirement Community in Zelienople, PA, after a brief illness. Leo and his wife, Audrey McElligott Rauterkus, recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary.
Born October 16, 1931, to Margaret Foley Rauterkus and Joseph A. Rauterkus, Ph.D., Leo spent his childhood years living in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington area before the family moved to Wilkinsburg, WHS Class of ’49.
Leo, a Korean War Veteran, US Army, received an honorable discharge as a Sergeant in 1954. He went to work in the building trades as a lather. He attended St. Vincent College for a year, 1954-55.
In 1956, Leo married the love of his life, Audrey McElligott, also of Wilkinsburg. They moved to Penn Hills, raised five children in parish life and the Penn Aqua Club, as well as many other school activities. Leo loved to play Bridge, swim, play tennis and was gregarious and friendly with everyone. He was always the first of the family to be recognized by someone not in our group, regardless of where we travelled.
Leo is survived by his wife, Audrey and their five children: Mark Rauterkus (Catherine Palmer) of Pittsburgh, Mary Lee Majewski (Phil) of Marshall Township, Margie Guyer (Bill) of West Chester, Geri Ann McLaughlin (John) of Philadelphia, and Michele Brickner (Kevin) of Dallas, Texas.
Leo earned his Bachelor’s of Education from Duquesne Univ. in 1962 and his Master’s of Education, via night-school, in 1970.
“Mr. R” devoted more than 30-years to the elementary schoolers in the Pittsburgh Public School District. He loved every minute he spent in school duties. His later assignments were at the Teachers’ Center of Excellence and the Gifted Center at Woolslair.
Leo and Audrey moved to Danbury Farms, in Freedom, PA, in 1999 to be closer to two of their daughters. They made many new friends and continued to play major roles in the lives of all of their grandchildren.
In 2015 Audrey and Leo moved to Passavant Retirement Community and were blessed to receive wonderful support and caring from the tremendous staff. Leo gave back to the Passavant community with his humor, friendship, bridge playing, ballooning, orgami, story-telling and as a member of the drama club.
Leo was a devout Catholic, and he attended mass as often as he could. Over the course of his life, Leo was a parishioner at St. Mary of the Mount, St. James’, St Bart’s, St. Ferdinand’s and St. Gregory’s.
Leo is “Pop Pop” to his 15 grandchildren: Audrey Guyer Rains (Jeshua), Adam Majewski, Joanie Guyer (engaged to Michael Ferrer), Martin Majewski, Erik Rauterkus, Charlie Brickner, Cassie Majewski, Grant Rauterkus, Laurel Ann McLaughlin, Kate Brickner, Tess Majewski, Helen McLaughlin, Kelli Brickner, Joe Brickner and Megan Brickner.
Leo was preceded in death by his three siblings: David Rauterkus (Audrey), of Florida; Joseph Rauterkus, Jr. (Claire) of Pittsburgh and Margaretmary Zoffel (Chip) of North Hills. Also passed, brother-in-law Jerry McElligott (Vicki) of Somerset, PA.
Leo was a loving uncle to many nieces and nephews. Leo is also survived by sister-in-law Pat Kaiser (Roy) of Bluffton, SC.
There will be a viewing on Thursday, November 12 from 3-6 PM at Devlin Funeral Home in Cranberry Township. There will be a Funeral Mass held at 11 AM at Saint Ferdinand’s Church in Cranberry Township on Friday, November 13. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Passavant Retirement Community’s Benevolent Care Fund (https://www.lutheranseniorlife.org/donate).
With the spiking pandemic, the family encourages safety and is planning a large celebration of life in the future. The funeral mass will be available via ZOOM. The link will be provided on this website.
At this time, please consider writing a note to Audrey. She and the family would appreciate the notes, The isolation and lockdowns due to the pandemic and public health restrictions have been difficult, as all are aware. Audrey’s address is:
Audrey Rauterkus
105 Burgess Drive
212 Trillium
Zelienople, PA 16063

Leo’s primary teaching assignments:
Crescent School, ’62-’64;
Swisshelm Park, ’64-’75;
Lee School, ’75-’80;
Brookline, including the Teacher Center, ’80-’89;
Woolslair Elem Gifted Center, ’89-’93.
Leo’s alternative teaching duties included more than two decades of summer school where he taught reading and math. He also coached, and led intramurals, world cultures curriculum, a MS task force, teachers advisory committee, and more.
Leo was creative, dynamic, resourceful, inquisitive, empathetic, positive, honest, cooperative and unafraid to take risks. He had the strongest people skills and was always able to
motivate others,
problem solve,
listen,
care,
make even the dullest things interesting,
connect with students on a personal level, and
be fair.

Family and friends are welcome Thursday from 3-6 pm at Devlin Funeral Home of Cranberry, 2678 Rochester Road, Cranberry Twp. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday at 11 am at St. Ferdinand Church. Everyone is asked to please meet at church to celebrate the mass.

Topic: Mass
Time: Nov 13, 2020 10:45 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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