Ray was confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gresham, NE. He attended Gresham High School and graduated in 1946. Ray loved baseball and enjoyed playing Legion baseball where he played third base. He farmed and had horses with his dad.
On March 25, 1951, Easter Sunday, he married Bernita Loesch in Enid, Oklahoma. Ray joined the Army and entered July 25, 1951, and was discharged July 25, 1953, where he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Following his service Ray and Bernita moved to Columbus, NE where they rented a farm. In 1956 they moved to Waverly, NE where Ray farmed and raised cattle. He also loved horses and raised several colts. Ray was a rural mail carrier based out of the Lincoln and Waverly Post Offices.
Ray was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Lincoln from 1956-1969. Later, Ray and Bernita, Mervel and Louise Reed established a new church – Peace Lutheran in Waverly, NE. Currently he was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Lincoln. Ray was a devoted Christian and a loving father. His faith and love of God and family was the most important thing to him.
Survived by his children Lila (Bruce) Thompson, Lynn (Joyce) Neujahr, LeEtta (Doug) Rudolph, Loren (Terri) Neujahr; 15 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren; 1 brother-in-law and 2 sisters-in-law; numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, wife Bernita, daughter Lois Ann, 2 brothers and 3 sisters.
Funeral service: 10:30 am Tuesday, April 2, 2024, Faith Lutheran Church, 8701 Adams Street. Burial will be 2:30 pm in the Greenwood Cemetery, Seward, NE.
Visitation with family present from 5-7 pm Monday, April 1, 2024, Roper and Sons Waverly Chapel, 10851 North 148th Street, Waverly, NE.
Memorials to Faith Lutheran Church, Concordia University or Plum Creek Literacy Festival c/o Concordia University or UNL Baseball.