VAN ZILE, Raymond J. 1923 - 2016

VAN ZILE, GOETZINGER, BOYLE, SCHWARTZ, DONLAN, DAHLOFF

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 1/10/2018 at 23:38:22

Raymond J. Van Zile, 93, of Mason City, died Sunday, July 31, 2016, at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 4, 2016, at Epiphany Parish—Holy Family Catholic Church, 722 N. Adams Ave., Mason City. Inurnment will be in the Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, with Military Honors conducted by the Mason City Veterans.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 3, 2016, at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St. NE., Mason City. A Knights of Columbus Rosary will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a Scriptural Wake following at the funeral home.

Family suggests memorial contributions to Newman Catholic School or Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

Raymond J. Van Zile was born March 10, 1923, son of Clifford and Irene Van Zile in Farley, Iowa. He attended St. Raphael Elementary School and St. Columbkille High School in Dubuque. After high school graduation he was employed by Armour & Company. He worked for them for 45 years, except for his time in the service with the Army Air Force where he was a tail gunner on a B-17 and flew 30 missions in WW II.

Upon returning from the service, he was transferred to Carroll, Iowa with Armour as a hog buyer. In Carroll, Ray met Bernadette Goetzinger at the Carroll Cafe where she was a waitress. They were married June 30, 1947 and were married for 69 years. To this union were born six children.

Ray and his family moved to several towns in Iowa throughout his employment with Armour and eventually to Madison, Nebraska where he retired at age 63. Ray and Bernadette then returned to Mason City where they had lived at one point during his time with Armour.

Raymond enjoyed bowling, golfing and fishing, especially his annual fishing vacations in Minnesota with his family. He enjoyed playing cards with friends and family. He loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren.

He was a member of Epiphany Parish, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and the VFW.

Raymond is survived by his wife Bernadette Van Zile; six children, Robert Van Zile, Charles Van Zile, Richard (Cheryl) Van Zile, Carol (Terry) Boyle, Kenneth Van Zile, and Connie (James) Schwartz; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Shaylynn), Christina, Brian, Ben, Andress Van Zile, Scott Boyle, Angela (Matthew) Shannon, Kellie (Jacob) Hubert, Ashley (Matthew) Umoren, William (fiancée Jennifer Schmidt), and Megan Prittie; thirteen great grandchildren; one sister, Elaine Van Zile; one brother, Clifford (Donna) Van Zile; one sister-in law, Betty Van Zile.

He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Herbert, William (Shirley), Joseph (Sally) Van Zile; one sister, Dorothy (Jim) Donlan; mother and father-in law, Frank and Kathryn Goetzinger; daughter-in law, Lyndee Dahloff, and great-granddaughter, Evylynn Van Zile.