Taylor, Raymond Edward

Raymond Edward Taylor, 73, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids after a sudden illness. Services will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church where there also will be military rites. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Burial will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Ray was born March 5, 1938, in Lansing, Iowa, to Loren Edward Taylor and Mildred Belle (Bolsinger) Taylor. He married June Ann Jeide in Waukon on April 17, 1971.

He was drafted in the Army, spending most of his two year career in Germany. Upon returning from military service, he was a buttermaker at the Waukon Co-Op Creamery and an assembly worker at Trane Company in La Crosse, Wis. He moved to Cedar Rapids in 1970, where he started his career at Carfrae Meat Co. After a brief move to Pensacola, Fla., he started his 35 year career as a painter/refinisher in the maintenance department at St. Luke's Hospital. He took great pride in everything he did.

Survivors include his wife, June; son, Gerald Ray “Jerry” (Amy Miller) Taylor; daughter, Sara June (John) Roemig; stepgrandchildren, Allison Roemig, Victoria Roemig and Gavin Carter Miller; sisters, Judy (Mark) Mojk of Pensacola, Fla., and Sandra Bryant of Pensacola; and brother-in-law, Herbert Halvorson Jr. of Waukon.

He is also survived by aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews; a granddog, Mia; and grandcats, Jada and Nomar.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law, Raymond Bryant and Duane Jeide; and sister-in-law, Mary Lou (Jeide) Halvorson.

Ray loved the outdoors which included hunting, fishing, golf, road trips and an occasional road trip to a casino. He looked forward to going Maifest, Octoberfest and Beckfest in the Amanas to enjoy polka music.

He was a very compassionate and caring man with a great sense of humor which everyone enjoyed. He was loved and admired by everyone who knew him. He loved being with his family every chance he got.

Ray was a life member of VFW Post 788, American Legion Post 298 for 38 years, and the Cedar Rapids Moose Lodge #304, since 1993.

The family would like to thank the ER Department, Dr. Kettelkamp & Venzon, the Neurology Department, St. Lukes Cardiac Care Unit, his co-workers in the Maintenance Department and St Lukes Hospital for their loving care.”

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Please leave a message or tribute to the Taylor family on the Web page, under Obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Jan. 11, 2012.