Hefel I, Raymond George

Raymond George Hefel I went to join the Lord after a long illness on Feb. 21, 2011. A funeral Mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Buena Vista on Monday, May 23, at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow.

Ray was born March 22, 1928, in North Buena Vista, Iowa, to Thomas and Florence (Errthum) Hefel. Ray served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict. After military service, he attended Elgin Watchmakers School in Elgin, Ill. He met his wife, Joyce Springer, in Charles City, Iowa. They married and moved to Marion, Iowa.

Ray and Joyce owned and operated Ray's Jewelry in Marion for 25 years before retiring to Phoenix, Ariz.

Ray was a member and served in various positions of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, American Legion Post 298, and the Iowa Jewelers & Watchmakers Association.

In his spare time Ray enjoyed flying airplanes, billiards, playing cards and bingo.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brothers, Leonard, Gerald, Thomas, Carl and Leon; and sister, Ruth Breitbach.

Ray is survived by his brothers, Emmet, Lester, Dan and Bob; sisters, Catherine Moser, Evelyn McGuire and Norma Latteyer; his children, Anthony (Lori), Dina (David) Arthur, Raymond II (Angie) and Matthew; as well as nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.