Lisa Barbara Rau, 64, of Kimberling City, Missouri, passed away on December 11, 2025.

Lisa Barbara Rau, 64, of Kimberling City, Missouri, passed away on December 11, 2025. Rau built an iconic career in the entertainment and television industries, most notably as an esteemed marketing and publicity professional with Silver Dollar City Attractions and Herschend Family Entertainment for more than 34 years.

Born on October 15, 1961, in Birmingham, Michigan, to Lawrence and Barbara (Daly) Rau, she often described her childhood as “idyllic in every way.” Her youth was immersed in creative, educational, and travel adventures fueled by her loving and accomplished parents. With one loyal and talented sister and countless dear and treasured friends by her side, growing up was an adventure she cherished that ignited both her insatiable curiosity and her zest for life.

Rau graduated from Birmingham Seaholm High School and attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, earning her degree in Communications TV/Radio. She launched her professional career with an NBC affiliate in Columbia, then moved to Chicago for a stint at WGN. Soon she was back in Missouri, where she joined KYTV as a news reporter and anchor in Springfield. Here she excelled as an investigative reporter focused on environmental stories. Rau received five Associated Press awards over more than six years with KY3.

She secured her “dream job” as Director of Publicity and Public Relations for Silver Dollar City Attractions and Herschend Family Entertainment in 1989. Those early, fast-growing years for the company and the community were profoundly enhanced by Rau’s media prowess and unparalleled passion for telling the stories of the Ozarks. She was at the forefront of mass media exposure as a self-proclaimed “junkyard dog publicist,” bringing still unprecedented worldwide exposure to the region. Rau and her communications team launched An Old Time Christmas, The Grand Palace, Showboat Branson Belle, and The Radio City Rockettes debut in Branson, as well as countless festivals, events, concerts, rides, shows, and expansions by Herschend Family Entertainment.

Rau was highly respected by media professionals across the country for her creativity, tenacity, and passion for her work, and was a recognized industry speaker on crisis communications for international trade associations. Her publicity career included numerous awards and accolades, including international Brass Rings for public relations efforts, a Mid-America Emmy for video storytelling, and a notable collection of American Advertising Awards for various radio and television campaigns.

Beyond her dynamic presence in Branson, Lisa had another place she called home, Harbor Springs, Michigan. Surrounded by family, Lisa’s visits were full of excitement, special trips to the toy store and the beach, yoga in the living room, sitting around doing puzzles, and love, lots of love. To her grandniece and two grandnephews, Aunt Lisa was the world. They will remember her picking them up from school with candy waiting for them and all of their friends, spending the entire day at the beach, and always posing for just “one more picture!”

Lisa was famous for saying, “Life is a contact sport,” as she magically expanded her network of friends to include thousands upon thousands from every walk of life. She loved Branson, Table Rock Lake, and the Ozarks, but mostly she loved people, regularly connecting new friends within her network and serving as an “unofficial publicity and public relations agent” for everyone she admired, and there were many. Her joy for life, amazing energy, and spirit of fun were gifts from God that blessed countless individuals and will continue to inspire countless more for decades to come.

Survived by her sister Christine Rau, nieces Mia Roukema, Ani Schmidt, Eva and Scott MacDonald and their children Reese, Beckett and Miller. Predeceased by parents Barbara and Larry Rau.

A service to celebrate her life will be held at a date to be announced soon. Instead of flowers, donations are requested in her memory for these nonprofits she supported:

Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation
Little Traverse Bay Protection and Restoration Fund
https://phsacf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1185  or info@phsacf.org

Friends of Kimberling City Parks Foundation, Inc.
FriendsofKimCityParks@gmail.com or https://square.link/u/3Y5zUcAp