Pelzer, Raymond Francis

Raymond Francis Pelzer, 88, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at the Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in West Liberty with the Rev. Greg Steckel. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, where a Christian Wake service will be held at 7 p.m., at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home, West Liberty. Burial will be in the Mount Calvary Cemetery, West Liberty.

Online condolences may be made to the family at .

A memorial fund has been established.

Ray was born Oct. 1, 1923, in Johnson County, Iowa, the son of Ralph and Pauline Knebel Pelzer. He was a graduate of West Liberty High School in 1941 and served in World War II with the U.S. Naval Air Force from 1942 until 1945. He was a member of Mansell Phillips American Legion Post #509 West Liberty, enjoyed playing fast pitch softball, cards and especially bowling, which he did until he was almost 80.

A caring brother and uncle, he is survived by a sister, Mary Catherine Murphy of Cedar Rapids; brothers, Richard (Theresa) Pelzer of Tipton and Donald (Kathleen) Pelzer of West Liberty; and sister-in-law, Marge Pelzer of Tipton.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Eleanor (Leonard) McLacklan and Loretta (James) Ruess; two brothers, Hubert (Joyce) Pelzer and Paul Pelzer; and brother-in-law, Bill Murphy.

Published in The Gazette Sept. 24, 2012.