Raymond Bittinger 1944-2008

BITTINGER, HUSEMANN, SCHERR, BAKER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 4/8/2008 at 20:01:36

Raymond Bittinger

Raymond "Ray" Bittinger, 64, of 1225 Arrowhead Drive, died Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, at home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, with Monsignor Wayne Ressler officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery, with military rites accorded by American Legion Post 6. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, where there will be a wake service at 7:30 p.m.

He was born on Jan. 8, 1944, in Meyersdale, Pa., son of Edward and Thelma Bittinger. He married Joan C. Bittinger on Sept. 27, 1969, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville; she preceded him in death on Oct. 13, 2006.

Ray served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1966 to 1969 and spent part of his service in Germany, where he met his wife, Joan. He worked at Mercy Medical Center for many years until his retirement in 1991. Along with his nursing degree, he later received his masters, in Health Care Management from the University of Dubuque.

Throughout all his great accomplishments, his family remained most important to him, especially his grandchildren.

Surviving are three daughters, Kathleen (Kevin Esser) Bittinger, of Silver Spring, Md., Krista (Brian) Husemann, and Ann (Matthew) Scherr, both of Dubuque; eight grandchildren, Aidan, Sage and Quinn Bittinger-Esser, Hunter, Connor and Ella Husemann, and Michael and Thomas Scherr; a sister, Margaret Baker, of Boyton, Pa.; and two brothers, Paul (Linda) Bittinger and Elwood (Darlene) Bittinger, both of Salisbury, Pa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; two sisters, Freida and Joyce; and a brother, Larry.

Copyright (c) Woodward Communications, Inc. 2008, All Rights Reserved. Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Sunday, February 24, 2008