Raymond George 'Ray' Kehler

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

March 11, 1928 - March 9, 2013

GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska -- Raymond George 'Ray' Kehler, 84, of Grand Island, died Saturday, March 9, 2013 at Hamilton Manor of Aurora, with his family at his side.

Service will be held 10 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church of Grand Island. Reverend Caroline Price-Gibson will officiate. Burial will be in Grand Island City Cemetery with military honors provided by the United States Army and the Grand Island Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at All Faiths Funeral Home.

Mr. Kehler was born March 11, 1928, on the family farm four miles north of Culbertson, to Alexander and Katherine (Grasmick) Kehler.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Eunice; son, Steve Kehler and wife, Darlene of Lincoln; daughters, Patricia Pickering and husband, Jack of Aurora and Katrina Letheby and fiancé, Curt Bauer of Hildreth; and sister, Lottie White of Chicago, Illinois.

Also left to cherish his memory are four grandchildren, Jodi Kehler, Jeff and Jenny Pickering and Alex Letheby; two great-grandchildren, Josie and Janessa dela Concha; sister-in-law, Lillian Kehler of Culbertson and a host of relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Nicholas Letheby; brothers, Albert, Reuben, Richard, William and Kenneth; and sisters, Marie Yost, Dolly Koch, Marie Klammes, Ludella Frye, Esther Isaac and Lila Labor.

Ray attended eight years of country school at District Six and graduated from Culbertson High School in 1945. He spent two years in the United States Army and was honorably discharged Sept. 24, 1952. Upon returning home, he was employed by the Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation. He worked as a lab tech for the Great Plains Regional Agency, building and constructing dams for irrigation.

Raymond was united in marriage to Eunice Corey in 1955, at McCook, Nebraska.

For many years Ray served as a deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of the VFW. Ray lived his life to the fullest, spending time with his children and fishing with his grandkids. His hobbies included photography, working with stained glass and gardening and Ray was always there to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.

Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church.

Condolences may be left at www.giallfaiths.com.