Raymond L. Weyer

WEYER, HEANEY, HELENIUS, BERGAN, HAAK, LINDHORST, HEMMEYER

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 5/20/2009 at 11:45:16

Raymond L. Weyer, age 86, died peacefully in his sleep on April 20 at his home in Iowa City.

Ray was born on November 6, 1922, to Rose (Heaney) and Frederick Weyer in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Hirsch High School in Chicago, and attended Northwestern University for one year before enlisting in the US Army in 1942. He was a staff sergeant in Squadron B 4268th AAF stationed in Alaska, where he was a radio operator. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1945, receiving the American Theater Ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater ribbon, and the Good Conduct Medal. He received his private pilot’s license in early 1946 and worked as an air traffic controller for the Civil Aeronautics Administration in Cleveland. On October 12, 1946, he married Marijane Helenius at St. Francis De Paula Church in Chicago. He then embarked on a long and illustrious career in the retail and wholesale meat industry, selling the best cuts of meat to fine restaurants from Chicago to Pittsburgh and from San Francisco to Seattle. He and Marijane retired in Portland, OR, then moved to Iowa City in 2003, where Ray established a cottage industry, "Reindeer by Ray." He spent his last few months living at Ecumenical Towers, and he spent many enjoyable hours playing bridge and bingo and shooting pool with many friends there and at the Iowa City Senior Center. He also enjoyed operating a ham radio, playing scrabble, doing crossword puzzles and gambling. Ray developed an appreciation for fine wines, and he and Marijane loved touring vineyards during their many years living in California.

He was predeceased by his loving wife.

He is survived by his son Timothy Weyer and wife Rebecca of Bend, Oregon; his daughter Sally Weyer and partner Marsha Bergan of Iowa City; his son Peter Weyer and wife Lynn of Iowa City; his daughter Nancy Haak and husband Richard of
Andover, Massachusetts; and his daughter Barbara Lindhorst and husband William of Moraga, California. He is also survived by eight grandchildren (Jennifer Hemmeyer and Gregory Weyer; Matthew, Erin and Maggie Weyer; Andrew, Emma and John Haak), three great grandchildren (Paul, Aila and Gabriel Hemmeyer) and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Iowa City Senior Center. Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City is handling arrangements.

On-line condolences may be directed to www.lensingfuneral.com