Obituary: Paul Rasch Sr., 85; Retired Middletown Deputy Fire Chief

From Doolittle Funeral Home

Paul Henry Rasch Sr., 85, of Middletown, husband of Sandra Miles Rasch, passed away on October 29, 2016 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Paul was born in Middletown on March 22, 1931 to the late August Rasch and Lillian Neubaum Rasch.

Besides his wife Sandra, he is survived by a son Paul Rasch, Jr. (Deborah) of Fancy Prairie, Ill. and Hilton Head, S. C., a daughter, Donna Wyman (Greg) of Rocky Hill and daughter Diane Rasch of Nutley, N.J. He is also survived by a brother John Rasch (Barbara) of N.C., a sister Lillian Melody of W.V., sisters-in-law, Bev Uricchio and Patricia Miles, stepdaughter Mindy Petruck, former son-in-law Ray Linehan, four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Along with his parents, Paul was predeceased by his first wife Dolores Moriarity Rasch and brother-in-law Richard Melody.

Paul became a volunteer firefighter of South Fire District upon graduation from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1949. Paul was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954. In 1967, he was appointed a regular firefighter of the Middletown Fire Department. He was promoted to Deputy Fire Marshal in 1974.

He was very proud of the fire safety programs he created and presented to schools and organizations throughout Middlesex County. He was once again promoted in 1987 to Deputy Fire Chief, retiring in 1992.

Paul was a member of Faith Lutheran Church and Warren Lodge No. 51 A.F. & A. M. He was past president of the Kiwanis in Middletown and president of Wadsworth Grove Cooperative Housing for 33 years. He was very active in the formative years of emergency medical services in Middlesex County, serving on the Middlesex and Eastern EMS Councils. Paul was a member of the Connecticut Fire Chief's Association, Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, Connecticut Chapter International Association of Arson Investigators and International Association of Arson Investigators.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 3 at 10:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Middletown. Interment will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery where full military honors will be accorded.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, November 2 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church Street, Middletown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 300 Washington Street, Middletown, CT 06457 or a charity of your choice.

Special thanks to Dr. Robert Levy of the Connecticut Oncology Group, Chris Piantek, Stan Warner and the numerous others that supported him in his final days.

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