Raymond Monroe Thorpe

Raymond Monroe Thorpe

Oak Park, IL

Raymond Monroe Thorpe, 70, passed away on Monday, May 20, 2024 in Chicago, IL. He was born April 2, 1954 in Des Moines, IA, son of Raymond Miller Thorpe and Patricia Margaret Bellamy Thorpe. The family moved to Cedar Rapids in 1960 where Ray grew up with his brother and two sisters.

He was crazy about all sports and was involved in the startup of the first soccer teams in Cedar Rapids in the early 1970's. Ray graduated from Jefferson High School in 1972, where he was active in sports and theater. He played Lazar Wolfe in Fiddler on the Roof. He attended The University of Iowa where he was a manager for the Iowa Hawkeye football team. Ray was a crowd pleaser as he ran onto the field and swooped down to pick up the kicking tee after each kickoff without breaking stride.

While a student, he met and married Marilyn Almcrantz in 1977. The two settled in the Chicago area and raised their three children, Jennifer Lorelei Thorpe, Sasha Kimberly Thorpe, and Colin Michael Thorpe in the city of Oak Park, IL. Ray was a stay-at-home dad when the children were young. He was extroverted, funny, smart, loving, and strong. He was a great cook, and active in his kids' sports. He also taught himself to sew and made elaborate Halloween costumes for his children. He loved talking on the phone with family and always knew where everyone was and what they were doing. He was an expert on movies and could tell you who the actors were, and the names of other movies they played in. He was considered a walking Internet Movie Database.

Ray loved to socialize and was known for celebrations like the Lobster Bash, an annual event he and Marilyn hosted at their home. He was called "Bunny" by his family and was known as "Keebler" to many of his friends. He will be deeply missed.

At the time of his death, Ray worked as a solicitor for Vietnam Veterans of America.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Carol Lynne Thorpe. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, his three children, grandsons ReJon and Jose, siblings Robert Thorpe (Karen), Judith Thorpe Hierstein (William), and Lisa Thorpe, along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.