Eric David Rau
Eric David Rau, age 49 of Cyrus, Minnesota, passed away on September 4, 2026 at CentraCare Hospital in St. Cloud, MN.
Visitation for Eric Rau will be held Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cyrus, MN.
Memorial services for Eric Rau will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cyrus, MN.
Eric Rau was born in Morris, Minnesota on January 21st, 1977 to Rick and Judy Rau. He graduated from Morris Area High School in 1996 and went on to attend Alexandria Technical College, where he studied truck driving. On September 5, 2001, Eric and Andrea welcomed their first daughter, Laurel into the world. Eric married Andrea Beyer, on September 22, 2001. In 2003, Eric and his family moved to Alexandria, MN, where they purchased their first home on Jefferson Street. Eric and Andrea welcomed their second daughter, Rheanna, on September 22, 2005. They had many good times raising their girls in the Alexandria area.
Eric loved spending time outdoors. He especially enjoyed ice fishing and golfing. He was a sports fanatic who liked watching football, golf, and baseball on TV. But above all, Eric cherished spending time with his daughters, Laurel and Rheanna. Whether they were ice skating on Donut Lake behind their home in Cyrus, jumping on the trampoline as kids, playing video games, watching movies, or gathering around a backyard bonfire, he was always up for family time. One of Eric’s favorite things to do when the girls came to visit was to cook for them. He was a good cook and smoking meat was his specialty. It was important to Eric that they would enjoy family meals together.
Holidays were quite meaningful to Eric because it brought the whole family together. He especially loved it when his brother, Ryan Rau, and Ryan’s family, Alexa and Mason Sayler, and Brooke Rau would come and stay for the holidays. Everyone enjoyed playing card games, cooking and spending quality time together. These times created memories that will carry on with the family forever.
Eric was always there for his parents and took great pride in helping and supporting them. He had a very special relationship with his mother, Judy. In recent years they shared a home together in Cyrus. They enjoyed having a beer on the patio together in the summertime, and making meals together. They especially enjoyed watching football, particularly when the Vikings were playing the Packers. This made for a little competition as his mom is a Packers fan and Eric is a long time Vikings fan. He was a very supportive son and took pride in being there for them. He was someone who showed his love through his actions. Lending a hand, cooking a meal, spending time together, and making sure the people he loved were taken care of.
Eric’s father, Rick passed away in July of this year. Although he is no longer with us, Eric had many good times with his father growing up. As a kid he played in the Morris little league and Rick volunteered as the coach. Eric, Rick and Ryan enjoyed spending time together outdoors. They would go deer hunting in the fall, and fishing on their boat in the summers.
Since Eric’s passing we welcomed a new addition to the family, Harrison Grant Sayler, born on 09/21/2026 to Alexa and Mason Sayler. Eric would have been an amazing great uncle.
Above all, Eric was a family man. His daughters were a tremendous source of love and joy in his life, and the memories they made together will remain a lasting part of his family’s hearts. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Eric was preceded in death by his father Rick Rau, and grandparents Albert and Emma Rau and James and Hazel Crooker.
Arrangements are with Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris, MN.
