Father Philip Rauth, a retired priest of the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln, died June 12 after a brief illness. He was 90 years old.
Preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings, Father Rauth is survived by a brother, Herman.
Father Lyle Johnson celebrated a funeral Mass June 17 in the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln. Priests of the Diocese of Lincoln concelebrated and Bishop Emeritus Fabian Bruskewitz was in attendance.
Bishop Bruskewitz presided at the burial in Calvary Cemetery. Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Father Rauth grew up on a farm near York, attending St. Joseph Parish. He was ordained a priest in 1959. His first assignment was at St. Teresa Parish in Lincoln. He also served as assistant pastor for Sacred Heart and Assumption parishes in Roseland (Juniata) and taught at St. Cecilia High School in Hastings.
After completing his graduate studies, he was principal of Bishop Neumann High School in Wahoo. He was in residence at St. Wenceslaus Parish in Wahoo, St. Joseph in Colon and St. James in Mead.
Father Rauth later served as pastor at St. Ann Parish in Campbell, Holy Trinity in Blue Hill, St. Mary in Nebraska City, St. Joseph in Auburn, and St. Clara in Peru, before his retirement in 2006.
In a 2014 interview with the Southern Nebraska Register, Father Rauth reflected on the 55th anniversary of his ordination.
“Being a priest is the biggest blessing there is,” he said.
