Raymond Zuehlke

Raymond E. Zuehlke, 87, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Friday, July 04, 2008, at Sunrise Terrace Care Center in Winfield, IA. Visitation for Mr. Zuehlke will be held on Sunday, July 6, 2008, beginning after 12 noon at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. that evening. A funeral service will be on Monday, July 7, 2008, at 1:00 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Herb Shafer officiating. Burial will be in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery near Douds, IA. Memorials have been established to the First United Methodist Church, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, and Amenity Hospice of Cedar Rapids. Born October 13, 1920, in Libertyville, IA, Raymond Edwin was the son of William and Emma Ziech Zuehlke. He attended school in Fairfield, IA. After his sophomore year of school, he left school to care for his ailing father and take over the family farm, since his mother had died when he was eleven years old. On April 11, 1947, Raymond married Alice A. Schleeter at her parents' home in rural Douds, IA. She survives. Ray spent his entire life in southeast Iowa. A farmer for many years, Ray planted corn and beans, raised Black Angus cattle and hogs, as well as dairy cows. He moved his family to Danville in 1968 and for several years he was a production worker for General Electric, retiring in 1983. Following retirement he moved to an acreage outside of Mt. Pleasant and resumed farming. As a youth Ray was confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He attended Methodist churches throughout adulthood and was a member of the United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant. He played the guitar and enjoyed playing for churches, schools, and square dancing. Along with his wife, Alice, Mr. Zuehlke is also survived by five daughters, Barbara (Bryan) Boeding of Burlington, IA, Sheryl (Bernard) Woerdeman of St. Paul, IA, Linda (Victor) Kruse of Houghton, IA, Sandra Carkhuff of Mt. Pleasant, IA, and Andrea (Steve) Willis of Mt. Pleasant, IA. He is also survived by fourteen grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and one step-grandchild. Mr. Zuehlke was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Walter Zuehlke and Alvin Zuehlke; one sister, Ruth M. Miller; and a grandson, Jordan Kruse.