Raymond Joseph Sturm

RAYMOND JOSEPH STURM

Cedar Rapids

Raymond Joseph Sturm, 84, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Friday, April 22, 2022, at Meadowview Memory Care in Cedar Rapids following a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Interment will be in Cedar Memorial Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Teahen Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, will be in charge of arrangements.

Ray was born was born Oct. 22, 1937, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Frank and Gladys Sturm, and remained a lifelong resident of the Cedar Rapids area. He graduated from Roosevelt High School and married his high school sweetheart, Sandra Luke, on Aug. 3, 1957. He and Sandy were blessed with four sons, Ted, Robert, David and Steven.

Ray worked his career of over 40 years at Cherry Burrell (Evergreen Packaging). Ray had a love for fast-pitch softball and was a talented fast-pitch softball player for Midwest Janitors, Welty Way, and Modern Piping from the late '50s to the mid-'70s. In fact, in 1971 his Welty Way team won the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) National Championship and represented the United States in the ASA World Tournament in the Philippines, bringing home a Silver Metal. Ray is a member of the Cedar Rapids Softball Hall of Fame. His legacy lives on in his family as and his #15 jersey became a signature number that was also worn by his sons and grandchildren. Beyond raising his boys and playing softball, Ray was a fan of sports, had a keen eye for stock market investing, and was a role model son to his mother, Gladys "Mugga" Sturm. After his playing days were behind him, Ray took great pleasure in playing the role of "Papa" to his grandchildren, traveling to see his children, occasional day trips here and there and, most of all, growing old with Sandy by his side.

Survivors include his children, Ted (Kimberly) Sturm of Cedar Rapids, Robert Sturm of Shellsburg, David (Maguette) Sturm of North Fort Myers, Fla., and Steven (Sue) Sturm of Grays Lake, Ill.; his grandchildren, Scott (Lisa Hajek) Sturm, Jill (Jordon) Ahrendsen, Laura (Greg) Saunders, Mai (Corey) Holden, Rei (Weijia) Sturm, Aicha Sturm, Nataile Sturm and Eric Sturm; great-grandsons, Jax Sturm and Logan Holden; and a great-granddaughter coming soon. Also surviving are numerous other relatives, especially Ray's special cousin, Doug (Millie) Havlick.

Ray was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Sandra; his parents, Frank Sr. and Mugga, parents-in-law, John and Genevieve Luke; stepfather, John Crumbaugh; and brother and sister-in-law, Frank Jr. and Kathy Sturm.

A special thank-you to staff at Meadowview Memory Care and Hospice of Mercy for the love and kindness given to Ray and his family.

Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association at http://act.alz.org. To share a thought, memory or condolence with his family, please visit the funeral home website at https://www.teahenfuneralhome.com/.