Raymond J. Noonan Sr. 1917-2008

NOONAN, SULLIVAN, SWEENEY, ALTHOFF, SHEDIVY, GILLIGAN, WOLFE, BELL, HARTMAN, OLDENBURG, HINDERMAN

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 7/16/2017 at 22:30:18

From the April 24, 2008 edition of the Dubuque Telegraph Herald

CASCADE, Iowa -- Raymond J. Noonan Sr., 90, of 207 1st Ave. East, Cascade, died at 6 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2008, at Shady Rest Care Center, Cascade.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 25, at St. Martin's Catholic Church, Cascade, with the Rev. Douglas Loecke officiating. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Garryowen, where military rites will be accorded by Cascade American Legion Post 528.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Reiff Funeral Home, Cascade, where there will be a wake service at 4 p.m. and a Knights of Columbus rosary at 7 p.m.

He was born May 27, 1917, in Chicago, son of Albert J. and Irene (Sullivan) Noonan. He received his education at Visitation grade school and St. Leo High School in Chicago. He was a 1939 graduate of St. Ambrose College, Davenport.

After the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the Navy, where he served as a communications officer until his discharge in 1945, with the rank of lieutenant.

At the time of his commissioning as an officer, he met his wife, Mary A. Sweeney, of Chicago. They were married on June 28, 1947, at St. Francis De Paula Catholic Church, Chicago. Mary was the love of his life and greatest supporter during their 53 years of marriage; she preceded him in death on June 4, 2001.

After relocating to Manchester as a self-employed manufacturer's representative, Ray co-founded the Ideal Wagon Unloader Co. in Monticello.

Eventually moving to Cascade in 1949, Mary and Ray opened Cascade Lumber Company in 1953. After selling his interest in the Monticello business to Dave Cuckler, Ray dedicated the next 55 years of his business career to Cascade Lumber Company.

While unofficially "retiring" in 1989, he continued to serve on as chairman of the board until his death. His welcoming and generous spirit was shared by his fellow employees, as well as the many customer and business associates he worked with throughout his career.

Ray was especially proud of his Irish heritage, a pride that was only exceeded by the love he felt for his family.

Professional organizations that Ray served on were the Iowa Lumbermen's Association, Northwestern Lumbermen's Association and the National Lumbermen's Association.

Local organizations that he belonged to include the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Men, Knights of Columbus Council 930, 4th Degree Dubourg Assembly 1573, Cascade Merchants Association, as well as a founding member of the Cascade Communications Company and the Tri-County Historical Society.

Ray's passion for business was paralleled by his interest in raising cattle on the family farm in Garryowen, which he felt was his home.

He also maintained a close lifelong association with the monastic community of the OCSO in New Melleray, to whom he attributed their support and prayer to the many blessings life had bestowed upon himself and his family.

Surviving are five children, Raymond J. (Carol A) Noonan Jr., Mary Beth (John A.) Althoff, Michael J. (Lynn A.) Noonan, Patrick J. (Anne P.) Noonan and John E. (Mary R.) Noonan, all of Cascade; 19 grandchildren, Doug R. (Emily) Noonan, Susan M. (David) Shedivy, Timothy M. (Sara) Noonan, Meg E. (Todd) Gilligan, Brian J. Noonan and Andrea M. Noonan, Megan M. (Aaron) Wolfe, Jared J. (Ali) Althoff, Joel R. (Leslie) Althoff and Alison M. (Chad) Bell, Bridget A. (Paul) Oldenburg, Patrick E. Noonan, Michael A. Noonan and Cristin M. Noonan, Kathryne M. Noonan, Michelle E. Noonan and Joseph "J. W." Noonan, Melissa Hinderman (fiance, Dan Benson), and Michael (Melissa) Hinderman; 19 great-grandchildren, Sam, Peter and Maggie Noonan, Adam, Sarah, Noah, Ella, and Anna Shedivy, Zach and Jacob Noonan, Jack and Molly Gilligan, Owen Wolfe, Cohen Althoff, Emma and Aedan Althoff, Ava and Paxton Bell, and Jaron Oldenburg; a sister, Mary Alice (Charlie) Hartman of Darlington, Wis.; and several nieces and nephews.

He also was preceded in death by his parents