Kristin K. Raasch

     Born to William C. and Mary Kercher in Dayton, Ohio on September 29, 1949, Kristin Kercher Raasch passed away on January 28, 2023.  Kristin grew up in Eau Gallie and Indialantic, Florida, graduating from Melbourne High School in 1967.  She then attended the University of North Carolina, graduating with a B.A. in economics.  After moving to Knoxville, Tennessee to work for the Tennessee Valley Authority she attended the University of Tennessee, earning her M.A. in urban planning.  She left Tennessee for a planning position with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Savannah, Georgia, building a home for herself on Tybee Island.    

    While living and working in Savannah, Kristin met her husband-to-be, Eric Raasch.  They were married in Savannah on September 19, 1981.  After giving birth to Eric Raasch, Jr and later Sara Raasch, Kristin left the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but continued to work part time, teaching at Armstrong College and Savannah State College.  When the family moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1988 Kristin continued to teach at then-named Florida Community College Jacksonville.  She was active in the community, serving at various times as president and treasurer of the Indian Springs H.O.A., the Laureate Zeta Upsilon chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority and the First Coast Trail Forgers chapter of the American Volkssport Association.

    Kristin considered herself a Florida girl and loved the beaches and the ocean.  After her family moved to the state early in her life, she always lived close to the beach, with the brief exception of her college years.  To share her love of the coast, she designed and led numerous walks for the First Coast Trail Forgers including those at Jacksonville Beach, Washington Oaks and Fernandina Beach.  All of these can be enjoyed as self-guided walks through the American Volkssport Association (AVA) and it’s Jacksonville chapter, the First Coast Trail Forgers.

   Kristin was an adventurous soul and loved to travel, especially anywhere with fiords and waterfalls.  Some of the places she visited were Alaska, New Zealand, Australia, and Norway, the homeland of her ancestors.  Her most recent travels included a cruise of the Great Lakes with her husband Eric and a visit to the Croatian coast with her daughter Sara. 

    She is survived by her two children Eric Jr. and Sara, her husband Eric and her brother William C. Kercher. 

    A celebration of Kristin’s life will be held on Sunday April 16, 2023 from 1:00 to 4:00 p,m. at the Four Points by Sheraton, Jacksonville Beach.  In lieu of flowers donations to the United Way of Northeast Florida (https://unitedwaynefl.org/give/) and the American Cancer Society (https://www.cancer.org/) are recommended.