Deanna "Dee" Rausch

Deanna “Dee” Rausch, 62, passed away on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 after battling some health issues.

Dee was born February 27, 1962 to Gloria (Pingel) Peik and the late Frank Koeck. She attended Hilbert High School and later went on to study AODA Counseling at Northcentral Technical College in Spencer.

Dee was one of the first female dirt racecar drivers at the former Chilton Speedway at the Calumet County Fairgrounds among other local tracks. For many years, she wheeled the #27 car in both the Mini Stock and Grand National divisions. Racing allowed Dee to develop many lifelong friendships. She loved NASCAR too. Rusty Wallace was her all-time favorite driver. She even made a trip to watch a race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. Racing was Dee’s one true passion. She also spent many Thursday nights attending the weekly program at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. She prided herself in only missing a handful of WIR’s Eve of Destruction events. 

On June 12, 1994, Dee was blessed with the love of her life, her daughter Amanda. She gave Amanda the nicknames “Toots,” “Bugaboo,” and “Bug.” She still called her all of those names for 30 years. Dee also had three loyal companions by her side as she navigated through life. Her “furbabies” were Princess, Jordy and JoJo. They are truly what kept her going on the hardest of days.

In 2015, Dee was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a unilateral mastectomy and many chemotherapy treatments. She fought and conquered her last chemo treatment on August 28, 2015 and remained free of breast cancer ever since. Through cancer and anything else life threw at her, Dee was fierce; a force of nature. She was not known as a woman who kept her thoughts to herself. She was strong, stubborn and would fight for those she loved. 

Dee was preceded in death by her sister, Dawn Peik, her father, Frank Koeck, her stepfather, Alfred Peik, and her “bestie,” Lisa Chronis.

She is survived by her daughter, Amanda (Amanda’s boyfriend, Trevor Gelhaar), her “grandpuppies,” Benelli and River, her mother, Gloria Peik, her brothers, Paul (JoAnn) Koeck, Peter Koeck, and Chad (Angie) Koeck, her sisters, Pat (Scott) Struck, Sherry Koeck, and Shelly (Richard) Cammish. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Amanda would like to extend heartfelt thanks to anyone who has ever been there for Dee.

There will be no formal funeral service. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. 

“Mama, you understood me in a way no one else ever has. A piece of my heart went with you, but I will continue to carry you with me every single day. As George Strait would sing,

I cross my heart and promise to give all I’ve got to give to make all your dreams come true.’ I love you the most.”

Love, Amanda