Georgia Ann Raun
January 25, 1925 – April 9, 2023
Georgia Ann Raun was born on a snowy day in Sioux City, Iowa (January 25, 1925) to Clarence Ira Hart and Arline Hughes Hart. Throughout her life, she focused her vibrant warmth on making sure those in her family and community knew they were heard, valued, and valued. She made this world a better place for over 98 years and passed away on a beautiful Easter day (April 9, 2023).
Georgia spent her school days on a farm near loved ones in the community of Gillett Grove, Iowa. She then attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake and was passionate about a variety of campus activities. She met her future husband, Earle S. Raun, in Buena Vista, and their relationship grew through shared interests — including the outdoors, education, the arts, and attending sporting events. After graduating, Georgia taught junior high school students in Spirit Lake, Iowa, for two years.
Georgia and Earle married in 1946 in Orlando, Florida, where Earle was conducting mosquito research for the USDA. Georgia’s fond memories of their early life together included spending time on Florida beaches and an extended work stint in Cuernavaca, Mexico. In 1948 the couple moved to Ames, Iowa, where Earle received his doctorate. at Lowa State and later served on the faculty there. Their three daughters were born in Ames, where many lasting friendships were forged.
In 1966 the family moved to Nebraska, where Dr. Raun was the head of the Department of Entomology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Georgia has been active as a leader of Camp Fire Girls, a member of the PTA and the Faculty Women’s Club. For over thirty years she was a dedicated volunteer reader for Christian Records Services for the Blind. She was a Welcome Wagon hostess for nearly two decades and an innovator at the local Welcome Wagon Club. She enjoyed encouraging and supporting neighborhood and community relationships of all kinds. Georgia and her husband were active members of the Crestwood Christian Church in Lincoln.
She embodied a lifelong commitment to physical, mental and spiritual health, openness to different perspectives, positivity, gratitude, hospitality and humor. She chose to see the best in people and circumstances and beauty in simple things.
Most recently, she was a resident of the Eastmont Retirement Community and spent the final months of her life at her eldest daughter’s home in Illinois.
Georgia preceded in death her husband Earle Raun, sister Claire Maurine Cunningham, brother Tom Hart, and son-in-law Richard Doll. Her memory is carried on by her daughters Michele Womontree, Nancy Raun and Patricia Raun, daughter-in-law Deb Skirvin, son-in-law Alan Weinstein, grandchildren Ben and Zach Weinstein-Raun, and sisters-in-law Ruth Raun and Judy Hart – in addition to many loving family and friends whose life she touched.
Friends and family can choose to celebrate their lives by continuing the values that have guided them. She wants to encourage us to respond to the opportunities before us to build connections of love and support for the people in our lives. Contributions can be made to the Larson Lifestyle Center https://ucollege.edu/fit/give or the People’s City Mission https://pcmlincoln.org in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Published by Lincoln Journal Star on April 16, 2023.
