Raman, Perry Lee 1955-2024

RAMAN, KOELE, GOLDHORN, SMIT, VANVOORST, WILLIAMS, SIMBRO

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/6/2024 at 14:20:35

Perry Lee Raman, age 68, of Hull, passed away on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at his home surrounded by his devoted wife and children, after a courageous ten-year battle with cancer.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Friday, January 19, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the American Reformed Church in Hull. There will be a funeral service on Saturday, January 20, at 10:00am, at the church with the Rev. Mark Cercone, the Rev. Bethany Reeves, and the Rev. Corbett Reeves officiating. Interment will follow the service at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. The Oolman Funeral Home in Hull is in charge of arrangements.

Born June 29, 1955, in Sioux Center to Elmer and Phyllis (Koele) Raman, Perry was a life-long resident of Hull.

Perry was a man who could fix nearly anything—tinkering, he called it—which he learned early on from time spent in the shop with his Grandpa Raman. He graduated from Western Christian High School in Hull, and then completed a heavy machinery degree from Northwest Iowa Technical College in Sheldon.

In 1975, Perry married his high school sweetheart, Kathi Goldhorn. Their daughter, Stacy, was born the following year. Kathi tragically passed away in 1978, and Perry embraced the role of devoted daddy to 22-month-old Stacy. In 1979, Perry began courting Audrey (Smit) Van Voorst. Not only did he court Audrey, but her two beautiful children, Anita and Aric; in fact, their very first date was at a pizzeria with all three kids in tow. Knowing a good thing when he found it, Perry proposed in June, and he and Audrey were married in September, with Perry gladly taking on the role of father to three. In his faithfulness, God quickly grew the three to five, as they were joined by Nathan in 1980, and Bethany in 1982. (It didn’t stop there, of course, as is evidenced by his twenty beloved grandchildren and one brand-new great-grandchild, with another one on the way.)

A hard-worker, Perry provided for his family through the years by working as a plumber, a trucker, and by building his own tree-moving company. He loved his church-family at American Reformed in Hull, where he served as a deacon, elder, and loved leading the 4th-6th grade singing group with the guitar. But some of his favorite times in life were family vacations and other trips with family and friends. Whether exciting motorcycle or snowmobile trips or relaxing with the family at the little lake cabin he and Audrey built from a converted chicken coop, Perry lived out his commitment to building memories with the people he loved. And the fishing trips… the famous and sometimes infamous fishing trips with his boys and eventually their boys. Fishing was near and dear to his heart.

So was music! From his early days singing and playing Simon and Garfunkel songs with his pal, TJ Klay, to traveling and performing Gospel music with Audrey and their children, Perry loved spreading the goodness of God through music and testimony. He had a knack for playing guitar and writing songs. Whether at church or on the road, Perry and Audrey used their God-given talents to share their story of God’s faithfulness.

Perry was known by his community as a generous and kind man with a genuine, fun-loving, and jolly nature. He set an example of putting his trust and faith in Jesus in both good times and bad.

He will be deeply missed, first and foremost by his wife of 44 years, Audrey; and also by his five children and their spouses, Anita and Eldon Vanden Brink, of Hull; Aric and Rachel Van Voorst, and Stacy and Eric Ribbens, all of Orange City; Nathan and Lora Raman, of Rock Rapids; and Bethany and Corbett Reeves, of Norwalk.

Not only a devoted father, Perry adored his grandchildren, Austin Vanden Brink, Abbey (Reed) Solberg, Annie (Isaac) Vietor, Allie Vanden Brink, Madeline (Hatem) Khalfaoui, Andrew (Alina) Van Voorst, Grace Van Voorst, Melaku Van Voorst, Askala Van Voorst, Addison Klocke, Asher Klocke, Jenna (Clayton) Nelson, Sadie Ribbens, Owen Ribbens, Brody Raman, Lainey Raman, Brooke Kooiman and friend Sam Harmon, Jamison Kooiman, Katy (Trace) Zachery, and Will Reeves; as well as a great-granddaughter, Rayne Solberg.

Perry will also be mourned by his sister, Bonnie (Russ) Vander Schaaf; a brother, Wes (Marcia) Raman; and his in-laws, Arlen (LeeAnn) Smit, Ron (Adri) Smit, Joan (Randy) Williams, Carl Smit, Sandy Simbro, and Randy (Colleen) Goldhorn; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Justin Bousema; a brother-in-law, Roger Smit; and his parents-in-law, Arnold and Betty Smit and Wesley and Hope Goldhorn.

Memorials will be given to the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Program of Greater Siouxland.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.