Michael Eugene Rash, age 72 of Clinton, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at the Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.
Michael Eugene Rash was born on October 11, 1951 in Kansas City, Missouri. He always joked that he was born “going up in the world” because his mom was going up in the elevator when his birth started.
Mike accepted Christ as his Savior in 1969 when he was a senior in high school and loved sharing his testimony.
He joined the Air Force in December 1970 and served his entire enlistment at Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Missouri.
On July 24, 1971 Mike married Marie Long, the love of his life and they were blessed with a daughter Stacey and son Michael. They later were blessed with a bonus son Dave and bonus daughter Amy. Mike said the only thing that surpassed the birth of his 2 children was when his grandson Miles was born in 2013.
He was so proud of Stacey and Dave, Mike and Amy and Miles. He loved family and in the words of his son, “He would do anything for his family if he could. He taught me that family comes first and Dad loved his.”
Mike and Marie served as foster parents for many years and still have relationships with many of those that passed through their home.
Mile remembered as a young child being asked what he wanted to be when he grew up and his answer was a pastor. He pastored his first church in 1972 in Warrensburg, Missouri. He later became ordained as an Assembly of God minister and for 50 years fulfilled his calling so faithfully pastoring churches in Columbia, Missouri, Knox City, Missouri, Greenfield, Missouri, Unionville, Missouri and Lyndon, Kansas.
He loved the years he served as a bus driver, especially driving local sports teams to games and driving vo-tech students to classes. He enjoyed sports and was a lifelong Chiefs, Royals and Mizzou fan.
Mike will always be remembered for his strong faith and positive attitude along with his ever present smile.
Michael is preceded in death by his father Ernest Rash, his nephew Brandon Ruopp, his niece Nichole Long and brothers-in-law Marvin Long and Donald Long.
Survivors include his wife Marie Rash, his mother Pauline Hess of Richmond, Missouri, his daughter Stacey Schnapf (Dave) of Bethel, Missouri, his son Michael Rash (Amy) of St. Louis, Missouri, one grandson Miles Rash of St. Louis, Missouri, his siblings; Jim Rash (Phyllis) of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Cheryl Karl (Ronnie) of Richmond, Missouri, Patty Ruopp (Wade) of Marshalltown, Missouri, and Sandy Warnell (Jeff) of Conrad, Iowa, his sisters-in-law; Kathy Collins of Clinton, Missouri, Linda Long of Republic, Missouri, his brothers-in-law; Lester Long (Karen) of Clinton, Missouri, Alvin Long (Verecia) of Clinton, Missouri, and David Long (Cindy) of Deepwater, Missouri.
A Celebration of Life was held January 4, 2024 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton with Pastor Phil Huffman and Pastor Brian Miller officiating. Special music included “Celebrate Me Home, Ain’t No Grave and What a Day That Will Be.” Inurnment followed in Englewood Cemetery, Clinton, MO. Military honors were under the direction of the VFW Post #1894 and the US Air Force.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
