Obituary: Raymond Baumgarn

Raymond Baumgarn, 88, was born on January 21, 1924 in Lakefield, MN, the son of John and Mary (Trojahn) Baumgarn. His mother passed away in 1925 and Ray was sent to live with his Uncle Bill (Dora) Baumgarn in Hartley, IA. He lived there several years until Uncle Bill passed away in 1931. Ray started 1st grade in Hartley and returned to Lakefield to live with his brothers and sisters, aunt and father. Ray lived there for several years and then moved to Jackson with his sister, Cel (Arch) Radke who owned a dairy. He returned to Lakefield and lived with another sister, Lindy (V.L.) Bucknam to finish out his sixth year in school. Ray’s brother, Les came and got him and he spent the remainder of his school years in Sioux Valley Township with Les and Eleanor Baumgarn. Ray graduated in 1943 and on that same day, he received his induction papers to go into the service. Upon his training, he was sent to the Panama Canal Zone for over a year and then was sent over to Germany in 1944. He served in the Rhine, and Central Europe in Germany and was wounded in Werl, Germany. Ray was in the hospital for 2 months recuperating from his wounds and surgeries and then worked in the office processing troops that could be sent home or sent to the South Pacific. He was sent home in the spring of 1946.

Ray went to Ohio in 1947 to learn the printing trade from his brother-in-law and remained there. Ray married Judith Reynolds on August 5, 1949 and they were blessed with three boys, Brian, Curt and Jeff. He worked in several printing plants in Ohio. Judy and Ray moved to Worthington in 1972 when they purchased Worthington Printing Company. He retired in May of 1990 but continued to assist his son, Jeff after their retirement. Ray died on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Luverne, MN.

Ray is survived by three sons, Brian Baumgarn of Sioux Falls, SD, Curt Baumgarn of Roanoke, TX and Jeff (Deb) Baumgarn of Worthington, MN; grandchildren, Beth (John) Davis; Evan (Emily E.) Baumgarn and Allison Baumgarn, and Katerina, Gretchen and Emily A. Baumgarn; great grandchildren, Faith Davis and Naomi, JuliEtta and Remington Baumgarn, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judith in 2011, his parents, and four sisters and three brothers, Eva VanWesten, Cel Radke, Lindy Bucknam, Hilda (who passed away at an early age), Roy, Les, and Melvin (who passed away at the age of 5).

Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 14, 2013, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Worthington, MN, with Pastor Joe Behnke officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will be held in the Sioux Valley Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 13, 2013, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington.

Memorials are preferred to St. Matthew Church Building Fund.

Tags: obituaries

Sign the guestbook

Comments posted on this page do not reflect opinions of Forum Communications Company. Forum Communications Company does not endorse and is not responsible for any statement, opinion, advice given or made. All replies are subject to approval and must follow Forum Communications Company guidelines concerning statements of libel, personal attacks or defamation of character. Replies in the "Talk About It" section that criticize a person by name may not be posted, unless that person is openly involved in a public issue. Comments written in all capital letters or bold print will not be considered for inclusion in the forum.

Terms & Conditions