Martha Ann Rau

Martha Ann Gibbons Rau, aged 90, went home to glory on Saturday, March 8, 2025 in Lexington, Kentucky, surrounded by love.

Martha was born on April 19, 1934 to Esther and Harry Gibbons in Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin. 

She was baptized and then later confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Baraboo.  She attended St. John's Lutheran School from first through eighth grades.  She graduated from Baraboo High School in 1952.  She went on to graduate as a Registered Nurse from Columbia College of Nursing (then called Columbia Hospital School of Nursing) in Milwaukee in 1955.

While home on a break, Martha met the love of her life, Donald Edward Rau, an aspiring Foreign Service Officer.  “Marry me and I’ll show you the world,” he said.  And she did.  And he did.  They were married on September 8, 1957, in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Baraboo.

As a 32-year Foreign Service Officer’s wife, Martha represented the U.S. overseas in Colombo, Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon); Chennai (then called Madras), India; Berne, Switzerland; Kathmandu, Nepal; Hong Kong (then a British Crown Colony); and Canberra, Australia.

In April 1975, while living in Hong Kong, Martha answered the call when Don volunteered her services for a mercy mission (known as Operation Babylift) to help rescue 425 Vietnamese orphans from an about-to-fall Saigon and fly them to waiting adoptive parents in Seattle, Washington.

Martha and Don retired to Salinas, California, which they considered Paradise.  Martha’s passions included watching the submarine races at Devil’s Lake with Don, reading trashy gothic romance novels, traveling, gardening with the help of a succession of beloved Silky Terrier companions, playing Bridge, and volunteering.  Martha -- an old hand having volunteered her time at her children’s schools, free health clinics, and with women’s groups at every station where Don was posted -- doubled down in retirement and volunteered over 9,000 hours spanning more than 30 years at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP).  She gave of herself as well, being a 5 Gallon Donor of her blood.  She truly believed in living by The Golden Rule.

After Don’s passing, Martha decided to follow her family and moved to Lexington, Kentucky.

Survivors include her children, Gail “Gussie” Racherbaumer of Lexington, Kentucky and Jeffrey (Laura) Rau of Keedysville, Maryland; step-grandchildren Kelly (Fred) Barnich and Ryan Summerlin; as well as four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Lynn Rau; and a brother, Thomas “Tom” Gibbons.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Baraboo.  Burial, next to Don, will follow at Walnut Hill Cemetery in Baraboo.

Martha’s family would like to thank Magnolia Springs Senior Living, Bluegrass Hospice Care, and Caring Hands, LLC for their kindnesses and care.

In lieu of flowers, Martha would have preferred that you say a short prayer for the world in her memory.