ray.plotz
Raymond "Ray" Plotz

Raymond “Ray” Plotz, age 72, of Glenwood and formerly of Clements and Redwood Falls died Sunday, July 13, 2008 at Seasons in Redwood Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2008 from St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Redwood Falls. Burial, with military honors, will follow in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Clements. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 from 4 until 8 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m., at Nelson-Martin Funeral Service in Redwood Falls. Visitation will continue on Thursday at the church for one hour prior to services.

Nelson-Martin Funeral Service of Redwood Falls is handling the arrangements.

Raymond Alford Plotz, the son of Joseph B. and Bertha C. (Bruckbauer) Plotz, was born December 12, 1936 on the Carson Rote farm near Clements in New Avon Township, Redwood County. He attended elementary school in Clements and high school in Springfield, graduating from Springfield High School in 1955. Ray entered the United States Army in October 1955. He completed basic training at Fort Carson, Colorado, then received artillery training at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas. Ray served with the 91st Artillery Company in Wiesbaden, Germany, for 1-1/2 years. Following his honorable discharge, Ray returned to rural Clements where he farmed.

On September 5, 1959, Ray married Audrey Ann Ohlemann at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Clements. Ray farmed with his brothers, Leo and Irvin, until each went on their own. From 1967 until 1969, Ray also owned livestock trucks and trucked around the Clements area. Ray retired from farming in 1992 after he was diagnosed with Waldenstrom’s Macroglobuemia – a form of bone marrow cancer. Following chemotherapy, Ray went into remission until late 1997.

Following his retirement from farming, Ray and Audrey moved into Redwood Falls where Ray was employed by the City of Redwood Falls on the street department. Audrey passed away in 2002. Ray retired from the street department in 2004 and continued to live in Redwood Falls until moving to his lake home at Glenwood.

Ray belonged to St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Redwood Falls and was a member of the parish council. He was past commander of the Robert Siekora Post 519 in Clements.

In his younger days, Ray played baseball and fast pitch softball with the Wanda town teams and slowpitch softball in Clements. He did custom baling, silo filing and harvesting for area farmers. Ray enjoyed his lake home and fishing, as well as spending time with family and friends. He loved to butcher and make ring sausage.

Ray is survived by his children Joseph (Renee) Plotz of Milan, Guy (Brenda) Plotz of Bunnlevel, North Carolina, Wade (Tammy) Plotz of Redwood Falls, and Shelly (Kevin) Kloos of Winsted; 11 grandchildren; one step-grandson; 4 great-granddaughters; one great-grandson. Also surviving is his special friend Gloria Kottom of Renville and her daughters Nicole (Bob) of Hastings, and Candie (Brian) of Minneapolis; his sister Leona (Leo) Prokosch of Redwood Falls; and brothers Leo (Janet) Plotz and Irvin (Donna) Plotz all of Clements. He was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey.

Blessed be his memory.