Raymond Kubicek

Raymond Albert Kubicek, age 89, of Austin, died Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at the Austin Medical Center. Ray was born April 8, 1921 in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota to Frank A. and Mary (Ressler) Kubicek. Ray married Lorrayn Helen Johnson (better known as Cookie) also from Blooming Prairie on May 22, 1943. They were married 67 years and had three children together: Dan, Sally and Paul. Ray graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1939. He played football, basketball, baseball and continued these sports at North Dakota University in Grand Forks. Schooling was interrupted by World War II. He served in the Army from 1944-1946 and served 11 months overseas in combat. He was a replacement for Battle of the Bulge and served with the 44th division of the 114th infantry and had charge of heavy maching guns. He spent 120 straight days on the line and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty. Ray belonged to the VFW and was a charter member of St. Edward's Catholic Church. Ray began working at Hormel on July 21, 1941. During his employment with Hormel he served as a grievance man, member of the Business Improvement Plan Committee, on the Executive Board, and was Financial Secretary for the Union. He retired at the age of 61 after 41 years of service. After retirement, he and Cookie moved to their home on German Lake for the summer, and spent the winter months in Lake Havasu City, AZ. They did this together for 26 years. Due to illness, he moved back to Austin in 2000 and resided at Oak Park Village. Survivors include his wife, Cookie; children, Daniel R. Kubicek (Margaret), Littleton, CO, Sally Kubicek Brown, Waconia, MN, Paul A. Kubicek (Lori), Oshkosh, WI; five grandchildren; three great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Carol Johnson, Austin, MN. Ray is preceded in death by his brothers, Bernard and Frank; and his parents. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00 am on Friday, December 17, 2010 at St. Edward's Catholic Church with Father Joe Fogal officiating. There will be a 6:30 pm wake service on Thursday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4-7 pm. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post #91 and VFW Post #1216.

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