Abdoul Rasoul Karimi was known most often as Rasoul but sometimes as Russ, Ray, Roy, Ross, Raymond, and depending on the neighborhood, RayRay. Rasoul was born in Shiraz, Iran in 1954. He was 72 years old when he died at his son’s home with family by his side where they remained every minute of his last days. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 43 years, Ruthie Karimi. Together they raised three children Clayton(Melissa), Nathan(Jo Terese), and Jordan(Nicholas). He was loved most of all by his grandchildren Layla and Lillian; Maren and Seamus; Grace and Finnegan.

He will be missed by his brothers Aziz(Merzieh) and Nabi(Noushin), his sisters Sarah(Henry) and Sunny(Bert), his mother Ashraf and his father Abbas who precedes him in death. Moving from Iran to the United States in 1976, Rasoul quickly began work while attending college. It was at the Parkmoor restaurant where he met his future wife, Ruthie, along with many more who would become lifelong friends and family. It was while working at the Parkmoor that, with Ruthie’s support, Rasoul was able to bring his family to America to pursue their own versions of the American dream. And in this way, he became and remained the foundation and pillar of strength for his own family and all the families whose lives he forever changed. Rasoul’s lifelong dedication to serving his family will continue as we all look to serve each other in his honor for many generations to come.

Rasoul was very proud to have spent his career with St. Louis University hospital where his hard work and dedication provided full college scholarship for all of his children. He loved spending time with family more than anything else. His love for travel and people and culture and life was truly special, diverse, and contagious. He was equally excited to navigate the train systems of Madrid and Paris as he was to trade jokes with toothless strangers at Missouri flea markets. Rasoul loved to pick a direction and drive for hours with no notice, requiring only that the car was filled with kids, and enough fruit to feed an orphanage. Rasoul’s life cannot be summed up easily but perhaps the greatest way to write him is to say that he was a man who to his core lived with extreme devotion and selflessness for his family. He was a family man in every sense of the word and he left a legacy of children and grand children who will gather often and tell stories about him. About wild ass Rasoul. The man, the myth, the legend.

Papu.
Grandpa.
Baba.
Daddy.

Rasoul’s Memorial will be held on 04/04/2026 at Queeny Edgar M. Picnic Shelter – Smith, Ballwin Ballwin Missouri beginning at 02:00 pm.

Memorial contributions can be made to Circle of Concern in Valley park