Fred Allen Rau, 77, of Brenham, Texas, passed away on Thursday evening, August 27, 2026. Shortly after his passing, the Astros beat the Yankees 5-1, and a long rain shower refreshed the Rau property in Zionsville after many days of extreme drought.

Fred was born in Brenham on September 11, 1948, to Fritz Henry Rau, Jr. and Florence Klingsporn Rau. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Wiedeville. He attended Brenham schools and loved playing baseball with proud memories as a pitcher in the 1964 Senior League World Series and as a member of the 1966 Brenham Cub State baseball team; The first ever Brenham Cub team to make an appearance in the State Championship game. He graduated from Brenham High School in 1967 and from Blinn College in 1970, where he pitched for the Blinn Buccaneer baseball team during the 1968 season.

Fred married the love of his life, Janice Schmidt, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Greenvine on February 26, 1972. During this fifty-four-year union, they were blessed with their daughter Stacy and later their son, Dane.

For fifty-four years, Fred was in the meat business and was the owner of Rau's Meat Center for over forty years. He enjoyed his time playing slow pitch softball for Farmer's National Bank and Kelm's Store. He also shared his love of baseball with the youth of the area as a little league coach for many years.

As a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Fred has served on the Church Council and the Building and Grounds Committee. Earlier in life, he also served on the Church Council for Immanuel Lutheran Church of Wiedeville.

In addition to his love of baseball, he enjoyed working with cattle, spending time outdoors, and following his grandkids in all their sports, especially Brenham Cub baseball. In his younger years, he enjoyed mule deer hunting trips in Utah and Wyoming as well as white tail deer hunting in Gillespie County with family for over forty years.

Preceding Fred in death were his parents, Fritz and Florence Rau, and his in-laws, Lawrence and Elvera (Tuty) Schmidt.

Family surviving to cherish his memory include his wife, Janice Schmidt Rau; son and daughter-in-law, Dane and Melonie Rau; daughter and son-in-law, Stacy and Trey Hardy; and his grandchildren, Jenna Hardy, Leah Hardy, Luke Hardy, Kade Rau, Brady Rau and Nate Rau. Other relatives include brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Delbert and Peggy Schmidt, Roy and Carol Schmidt, his first cousin, William Klingsporn, three nieces, one nephew, and many Rau family cousins.

A visitation for Fred will be held from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM, Saturday, August 29, 2026 at Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main Street.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 PM, Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Zion Lutheran Church, 1800 FM 2679, Brenham, with Pastor Glenn Hohlt officiating. Burial will follow the service at Prairie Lea Cemetery, 1004 Prairie Lea Street, Brenham.

Serving as pallbearers will be Kade Rau, Brady Rau, Nate Rau, Luke Hardy, Dane Rau and Trey Hardy.

Honorary pallbearers include Jenna Hardy, Leah Hardy, Wallace Klussmann, Kyle Klussmann, Jon Jones, Mike Sedgwick, Keith Schmidt, Jackie Heidemann, Glenn Neutzler, and Bubba Blumenthal. Other honorary pallbearers include the loyal employees of Rau's Meat Center, Ronnie Kelm, Elois Eikenhorst, the late George Lorenz and the late Alan Runge. The family would like to thank their wonderful and helpful neighbors, Travis Wackmann, James Korth, Wayne Wellmann, and Tacho Lopez.

Memorial Contributions may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church Buildings and Grounds Fund or the Brenham Cub Baseball Alumni Association.