Van Steenhuyse, Ray

Ray Van Steenhuyse, 86, died peacefully Friday, July 1, 2011, surrounded by his family at Deerfield Retirement Community in Urbandale. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 6, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton, with the Rev. Ardel Barta as celebrant. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery, with military rites by Emil H. Dutler American Legion Post of Mount Auburn and the Iowa Military Funeral Honors. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton, with a Scripture service at 7:30 p.m., and on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until mass time at the church.

Raphael Raymond Van Steenhuyse was born April 24, 1925, in Fairfax, Iowa, to Walter and Louise (Simmons) Van Steenhuyse. After graduating from Van Horne High School, Ray served his country during World War II as an Army Air Force nose gunner in a B24 bomber, stationed throughout Europe and North Africa.

On Aug. 27, 1947, Ray and Helen Walsh were married in Williamsburg, Iowa. They started their farming career near Mount Auburn in 1949. He was a pioneer in minimum tillage farming practices.

Ray served on numerous boards, including Vinton Lions Club, Iowa Ham Processing, State Bank of Vinton and Vinton Country Club. He was a longtime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton, the Knights of Columbus and the Mount Auburn American Legion.

Ray and Helen loved family gatherings, entertaining friends and being involved in their local communities. He was an avid hunter, golfer and bridge player. He and Helen enjoyed winters in Mesa, Ariz., with their “Arizona snowbird family” for many years. Ray never met a stranger.

Ray is survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen; five children, Frank (Kathleen) Van Steenhuyse, Vinton, Tom Stonehouse, Palm Springs, Calif., Dan (Nancy) Van Steenhuyse, Vinton, Mary (Bob) McLaury, Washington, D.C., and Amy (Kurt) Lau, Des Moines; 10 grandchildren, Todd (Jenn) Van Steenhuyse, Kate (Ryan) Gates, Mark (Abby) Van Steenhuyse, Ann Van Steenhuyse, TJ (Tessa) Van Steenhuyse, Laura Van Steenhuyse, Jessica Harding, Michael, Tommy and Elizabeth Lau; two great-grandsons, Ray Van Steenhuyse and Maxwell Gates; two brothers, Gerald (Kate) Van Steenhuyse, Williamsburg, and Earl Van Steenhuyse, Newport Beach, Calilf.; one sister, Rita (Ed) Bower, Williamsburg; numerous nieces and nephews; and special family friend, Jim Edwards.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Leo; and sister, Mary Frazier.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Ray and his family.

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