My name is Russ Klase, My family and I knew Josh and the Rau family for the last 10 years, we have become very close and were very close with Josh.

I knew Josh the best as his scoutmaster for most of his scouting years.  As I saw it Boy Scouts was the world to him, and it was certainly evident in the number of scouts and families from his home troop at the service.  Josh's best traits shown brightly through scouting.

One of his best traits was that he was always determined.  The troop went to Philmont Scout Reservation in 1999.  It was a 12 day backcountry backpacking trip.  Josh was the youngest member of our crew, but probably the most determined.  He pulled his weight and then some, Josh certainly did not let the older scouts upstage him.  However he had fun doing it,  Rick, remember the dirt angels.  Yes they are exactly what you may picture, just like the snow angles but done in dirt.

I still remember the day I met Josh and Rick for the first time.  They came looking for a scout troop to join.  I'm not really sure what it was that day, but something told me Josh was going to be an Eagle scout someday.  Whatever it was, Josh made good on it as I had the pleasure to award him his Eagle scout badge in 2003.  I have awarded many Eagle awards but I felt most privledged to have awarded Josh his Eagle. In Josh was a scout that really worked hard and was indeed proud to be an Eagle.  I also knew that Josh would indeed give back what scouting gave to him.

That was another one of his strong traits, always willing to give back, always willing to help.  This was ever evident in the troop too.  Most scouts do their leadership requirements because they have to.  Josh did his because he wanted to.  At the end of each term he always volunteered to continue on as a leader in whatever position he was needed.  He served as a Den Chief, Assistant Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader and Junior Assistant scoutmaster.  He was also voted in to the Order of the Arrow (which is another service organization in scouting) and was the troop's scout of the year in 2000.  Josh was still also registered as an Assistant Scoutmaster and would continue to help the troop whenever he was back in town. Of course his continued leadership brought out another trait, his willingness to teach.

As I said my family and I are also very close to Josh and the Rau's on a personal level outside of scouting.  Josh was a favorite sitter for our kids.  The first time Josh was over as a sitter, both kids wanted him back "the next time".  Everytime we told our kids we were planning on going out, we would get the same question from them "Can Josh come over and watch us?"   As I said Josh's willingness to teach was very evident in scouts, but it followed through in everything else he did. His passing along of knowledge even came while he was watching our kids.  I would like to conclude with this little story from my oldest son.  My son told us that he will remember Josh, because Josh was the first person to teach him to talk like Donald Duck.