Jay D. Raburn

Jay D. Raburn

Nov. 3, 1968 - April 17, 2021

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Jay D. Raburn, age 52, passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday, April 17, 2021.  He was born in Cambridge on Nov. 3, 1968, to R. Joe and D. Lorene (Zysset) Raburn. He graduated from Cambridge High School in 1987. Jay served in the Army National Guard for seven years.  Jay was a member of the United Methodist Church. He married Nicole Simeon and to this union two children were born, Kelsey and Graeme. He was united in marriage to Michelle Pruneda on Aug. 5, 2017, in Austin, Texas. 

Jay worked for Swine Management in Long Island, Kan., for 15 years. He worked his way up to production manager and later ran all the farms for Swine.  He became quite knowledgeable about genetics, reproduction, and artificial insemination.  Hay took the knowledge that he gained working at Swine Management and utilized it for his love and passion for animals; breeding and selling dogs and birds.  Jay took a hand at taxidermy and did some of his deer that sit in his home.

The fall always heralded open hunting season for Jay, a hunter of wild game, both big and small. He was an avid hunter who enjoyed many outdoor sports, trapping/snaring beaver and bobcat, and fishing. Hunting seasons was one time of year he always looked forward to. 

Jay was able to accomplish the one thing on his bucket list and that was to hunt in South Africa. He went on safari in July of 2018. He was an excellent marksman who captured a few awards with Safari International Club (SCI). The SCI Record Book of Animals and the SCI Record Book Committee presented him with two Gold Medal trophies, ranking 21 for taking an African Wild Cat, ranking 25 for taking a Caracal and a Silver Medal Trophy, ranking 27 for taking a Serval. It was a passion he fully enjoyed and never tired of. He was passionate about the Nebraska Huskers football and girls volleyball teams which he enjoyed and watched with his parents, seasonally. 

 Jay was preceded in death by his father, Joe Raburn; two nephews, Casey Raburn and Hunter Westadt; and his in-laws, Hector and Mary Lou Pruneda.  

 Jay is survived by his wife, Michelle; two children, Kelsey Raburn of Lakewood, Colo., and Graeme Raburn of Almena, Kan.; his mother, Lorene Raburn; two brothers, Douglas and wife, Kay and Derek and his wife, Jennifer; one sister, Pam Westadt and husband, Troy; four nephews, Alex Raburn, Chance Westadt, Nolan Westadt and Hodge Raburn; four nieces, Samantha Raburn, Haleigh Westadt, Maddie Raburn and Gaby Raburn; one brother-law, Hector Pruneda Jr. and his wife, Isabel; three sisters-in-law, Laura Garcia and husband, Isaac, Selma Martinez and husband, Eddie and Velma Hudson and husband, William; and numerous nieces and nephews in Texas. 

  Memorial services will be at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Cambridge on Friday, April 23, 2021, at 2 p.m., with Pastor David Kim officiating.  A private family inurnment will be at a future date in the Fairview Cemetery of Cambridge. Friends may leave online condolences at lockenour.com. Memorials may be left in Jay’s name at Lockenour-Jones Mortuary in Cambridge. 

Lockenour-Jones Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements.