Geoffrey Lew Rausch

Geoffrey Lew Rausch, age 79, of Alpharetta, Georgia, passed away on July 1, 2019, surrounded by his family. Geoff was born on March 9, 1940 to Lew and Alice Rausch in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from West High School in 1957 and then attended Ohio State University, graduating with a bachelor of science in Landscape Architecture in 1962. During his time at OSU, he began his service in the Army, and remained in the Reserves until 1967. Geoff married Nancy Olson in 1962, who was a supportive force behind his professional successes. He began his career in landscape architecture in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with Simonds and Simonds (later to become Environmental Planning and Design,) where he became a Principal in 1976. In 1999, he formed a new firm, Marshall, Tyler, Rausch, LLC. Throughout his forty-five year career, Geoffs special area of expertise was the design and master planning of arboreta and botanical gardens. He was responsible for the planning and design of more than sixty botanical gardens and arboreta throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Canada. Some of his major gardens include Atlanta Botanical Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden, Bloedel Reserve, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, U.S. National Arboretum, National Tropical Botanical Garden, and Tower Hill. In 2003, Geoff was made a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects in honor of his body of work. During their forty years in Pittsburgh, Geoff and Nancy raised their two children, Beth and Matthew. They spent many family weekends at Seneca Lake, Ohio, where Geoff enjoyed his boats. In 2004, he and Nancy moved to Alpharetta, Georgia, to be near their children and grandchildren. Soon after, Geoff and Nancy joined Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, which led him to serve at Hands of Christ in Duluth, Georgia. Later he became active in WARM, a retired mens group in his Windward neighborhood. Through WARM, he volunteered with North Fulton Community Charities. Geoff was a devoted husband, father and PopPop. His survivors include his wife, Nancy; his daughter, Beth and her children Kelsey, Alison, and Bennett Roth; his son, Matthew and his family Stacey and Joshua York; his sister, Judy Warner, and her husband Howard; his sisters-in-law, Margo and Kathy Olson; his brother-in-law, Don Olson and wife Celia; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors. A memorial service will be held on August 3, 2019 at 2:00 pm at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, 10950 Bell Road, Johns Creek, Georgia, 30097. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hands of Christ (duluthco-op.com) or Johns Creek Presbyterian Church.

Ingram Funeral Home Crematory, 210 Ingram Ave, Cumming, GA 30040 is in charge of arrangements.