Buchmayer, Raymond 'Booky'

Raymond “Booky” Buchmayer, 85, of Solon, died Saturday, March 23, 2013, at Mercy Iowa City. Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 29, at Brosh Chapel in Solon, located at 100 S. Cedar St. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery with full military rites provided by the Solon American Legion, Stinocher Post #460. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Brosh Chapel in Solon.

Raymond was the first born of Otto and Agnes (Kriel) Buchmayer on Sept. 4, 1927, in Solon. He graduated from Solon High School and attended Cornell College for three years. He then attended and graduated from Bricklayer Trade School. He married Elaine Schindler on Jan. 17, 1953. She died Dec. 31, 1996. Raymond served in the United States Army during World War II and was an active member of the Solon American Legion where he served as past commander. He was the adjunct for the American Legion 1st District and a member of the Bricklayers Union Local #3. Raymond worked as a bricklayer for over 50 years with Larson-Unzeitg before retiring in 1990. He was a member of the Solon Volunteer Fire Department and worked for Mark's Auto Body. Raymond was a member of the Solon United Methodist Church.

Raymond loved hunting, fishing, and mushroom hunting. He loved to travel to new places, his large family and his morning coffee trips uptown Solon with the guys. He was active in the farmers market in Solon and famous for his melons. He married Betty Jo Brumwell Lamansky on Feb. 14, 2004 at the Solon United Methodist Church and his family really grew. Holidays, weddings and new babies kept him busy in his retirement years.

Raymond is survived by his wife, Betty Jo; children, Richard (Jan), James (Eileen), Edward (Diane), Robert (Kathy), Patricia (Kevin) Balibrera and Pamela (Bryan) Mougin; siblings, Paul and Dorothy Villhauer; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; stepchildren, Elaine (Clarence) Rothmeyer, Wayne (Katherine) Brumwell, John (Michele) Brumwell, Susan (Russ) Grover and James (Rita) Brumwell; 14 stepgrandchildren; and five stepgreat-grandchildren.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Elaine; infant son, John; and infant sister, Irene.

“A gentle giant with a big heart.”

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Solon Fire Department, Solon United Methodist Church and the Solon Veterans Memorial.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at .

Published in The Gazette March 26, 2013.