Raymond J. "Ray" Stallbaumer, 94, of Seneca, died late Sunday night, June 29, 2008 at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. He was born August 15, 1913, on a farm southwest of St. Benedict, the son of George and Elizabeth Engelken Stallbaumer. He attended St. Mary's School, worked on the family farm, and also helped farmers in the area.
On February 21, 1939, he married Amelia Lackey at St. Mary's Church, St. Benedict. They lived and farmed in the St. Benedict area until the spring of 1946 when they bought a farm southwest of Goff, where they ran a dairy. On December 25, 1963, Amelia and their daughter, Marlene Rose, age 19, died in a car accident south of Soldier. Ray was injured in the accident. He later moved to Seneca and while recuperating from the accident, he lived with his sister, Minnie Haug, on the family farm. He worked for Vern Bergman Ford for several years as a parts man. He later worked several years at Smitty's Gas Station.
On August 7, 1965, he married Frances A. Peppersack Koch at Seneca. They lived in Seneca. In 1968 he started working as the sexton at Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery. He semi-retired in 1996 but continued to help at the cemetery until his 85th birthday.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, and the St. Joseph Society in Seneca. He was a former member of St. Patrick's Church at Corning. Ray always had a large garden, was a natural mechanic who enjoyed fixing things like heavy duty jacks, lawnmowers and other motors. He also liked working with woodcrafts, especially bird houses, which he built and gave to family and friends.
Survivors are his wife, Frances; a daughter, Barbara Strathman, Goff; a step-son, Gary Koch, Orange Park, FL; a step-daughter, Margaret "Peggy" Parrish, Louisville, KY; a sister, Rita Broxterman, Seneca; 13 grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren and 5 step-great-grandchildren.
Besides his first wife and daughter, he was preceded in death by a step-son, Cecil Koch and a step-daughter, Carolyn Rethman; five brothers, Alfred, Cyril, Emmett, Hubert, Adrian, and Cletus; three sisters, Leona Nolte, Cora Hammes and Minnie Haug.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 AM Wednesday, July 2, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. The burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery at Corning. Rosaries will be prayed at Lauer Funeral Home at 2 & 7 PM Tuesday.