Raymond "Ray" J. Cederdahl

Tribute to our Beloved Raymond John Cederdahl

How do you start a tribute to the person whose heart is carried in your heart?

Ray was born on June 30, 1949 to Jack and Joan Cederdahl, in York NE. They moved to Lincoln shortly after where he resided until his death on January 9, 2024.

Ray married the true love of his life, Marcia Kinney, on April 15, 1977. They were married nearly 47 years, and raised an incredible family together. The love they shared was one for the ages and a role model for their children. That love will always be present. They share 3 children together, Jay R Cederdahl & his wife Alyssa along with granddaughter Nora; Kjerstin and her husband Joel Egger; Erika Jo Neeley & her wife Meghan along with grandson Nova. Ray adored his children and was so delighted to become a Grampa!

Ray loved being an engineer and the work he felt privileged to do. He was one of the founding members of Branch Pattern over 40 years ago. There is such respect, admiration and love present from his co-workers. He cared for them greatly as well.

The love and generosity Ray gave to others has left a lasting impact on so many people. When Ray was around, everyone was welcome, and knew they were important and cared for.

It is so difficult to find the right words that describe him:

Kind, loved fiercely, generous, courageous, a mentor and teacher, witty, intelligent, respected. He was passionate about human rights and social justice issues, and he appreciated food, music, and the arts. He also loved to drive fast cars. We will feel Ray in every important moment and joyful experience.

Ray,

“May you continue to inspire us to enter each day with a generous heart, to serve the call of courage and love, until we see your beautiful face again, in that land where there is no separation, where all tears will be wiped from our minds, and where we will never lose you again.”

From Bennacht, John O’Donohue

A Celebration of Ray’s Life will be held 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at the Unitarian Church of Lincoln, 6300 ‘A’ Street, Lincoln (10).

Memorials may be directed to Bryan Hospital Foundation or the Unitarian Church of Lincoln.

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January20

Celebration of Life

2:00 pm CST

Unitarian Church of Lincoln

6300 ‘A’ Street, Lincoln (10)

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January 23, 2024

To the Poet, Our Death Doula We turn to you when our vocabulary fails. You who wield and weave words in ways we cannot with our quavering voices. Weave the same keening vowels into a polite poem instead of this growl threatening to express the anger I cannot. We source vows from your verses, cite sonnets, and memorialize in your manner. We pruned down a lifetime of loving you into a prosaic obituary. It was the best we could do. These lilies cloy, and every story gets caught in my throat. So say it better, tell it truer than we can manage. When bad news delivered blocks out all other sound, And we lose taste at the table, You cast a line that retrieves us from drifting out with our grief. We lean on pulpits and draw upon your talents to say what wordlessly churns within as unmoored loss. I’ll loiter in the library looking to form an anthology of anguish. Why didn’t he wait? He didn’t wait for us to be ready. And I suddenly can’t trust time. It wasn’t his time, and no one will set back the clock. “People die, love doesn’t.” You say, “he’s a cloud now.” “He’s in all these shining eyes.” “A cloud never dies,” you say. And the poet, the doula, the dharma serves us a stew we can finally stomach. There’s a way you poets put it down that I have picked up, and now carry like pocket stone for my thumb to worry, my tongue to reread and recite. I never saw in the winter forecast, the analogy of the cloud as is the eulogy, but we never will we forget how you reframed the storm this death rained down on us. We will need your pen again, for we know death is certain. And you’ve given us a thousand expressions for loving and letting go.

– Austen Huigens

January 20, 2024

I am so thankful Ray was a big part of both my daughters lives – Jennifer and Misty. The memories and stories Misty has shared with me lately are so joyful. I’m very grateful for the love the Cederdahl family gave my children always. God bless you all.

– Lorna Godbout

January 17, 2024

Marcia and Families…..sending gentle hugs and lots of love for all of you. Tho our paths haven’t crossed frequently, I remember Ray for his kindness, love of family and enjoyment of life. May you be comforted with the cherished times you shared and may they sustain you in these days ahead. With all of love, Rainie and your Sorley cousins.

– Loraine Sorley

January 16, 2024

I don’t remember a day when Ray Cederdahl wasn’t a part of my life. He has been one of my dad’s closest partners and friends since 1970. He helped build my childhood home and would eventually build his home just behind ours. As a young boy I would play in Ray and Marcia’s yard and they always felt like part of our family. As a teenager I started to work at BranchPattern. Over the years, I wasn’t always responsible. I was often naive and overzealous, looking to be recognized and challenging the way things were done. This would sometimes get me in trouble with the elders. But not Ray. He was always steady as a rock and preferred to teach by example. Whenever I thought I was succeeding, he would humble me with his matter of fact way of stating what I may be missing and quickly move on. When I was failing he would encourage me with his steadfast belief that it will work out. After I married my wife, Jaya, we would connect with Marcia and Ray on occasion. Jaya was instantly drawn to the warmth of Marcia and we would regularly use the love that Ray and Marcia displayed as an example for our own marriage. As a couple, Ray and Marcia endured a lot. With every challenge that they faced, they became closer and invested more in one another. Knowing how much love Ray provided his family, my heart breaks for Marcia and the kids. None of us are promised tomorrow, and Ray knew that. He loved and lived that way in his final years. Thank you for that final lesson, Ray. I will try to learn from your example.

– Nate Maniktala

January 15, 2024

Marcia, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Please know you have many friends who care about you. Ray was a great husband, father, & grandfather and he will be long remembered.

– Pat Urzedowski

January 15, 2024

Marcia and family, so sorry for your loss. He sounds like a wonderful man.

– Faye Stander Weckle RN

January 15, 2024

Dearest Marcia & kids, Oh, what a life Ray lived! He had batteries that kept recharging with every trip he took! It was amazing to keep up with him thru fb ~ constantly reminding me of his mom! He is resting peacefully, knowing that you will all be together again. Blessings to all at this time & forever.