Robert J. Rayman, 97

Robert John Rayman, 97, of Elberon died May 17, 2014 at the Keystone Care Center. Memorial services will be held 3:00 PM on Sunday, June 29th at the Elberon United Methodist Church by Pastor Rose Marie Calderon-Kahn with inurnment in National Cemetery, Vining. Hrabak Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Robert, youngest of 9 children of Joseph and Emma Kubik Rayman died May 17, 2014. He was born January 10, 1917 at the now-century Rayman farm north of Elberon in a house built by his father.

He graduated in 1933 from Elberon Independent School and married Harriette Olsen in 1940 in Tama, Iowa.

Robert worked for Dean’s photography studio in Des Moines, briefly owned an implement store in Elberon with his brother, Richard, and farmed in the Elberon area from 1940 until his retirement in 1982.

He was an early graduate of the Dale Carnegie public speaking course.

Robert served on the boards of Bohemian Mutual Insurance, Keystone Farmers Telephone Coop, Elberon Independent School District, the Tama County Grain Company, and The Elberon United Methodist Church where he was a member. He was also a member of the Elberon City Council, The Elberon Fire and Rescue Department and served as an ambulance driver and First Responder.

He received the 2007 Governor’s Volunteer Award for community work, The Elberon Fireman’s Service Award and the Boys Scouts of America Service Award.

He and Harriette were avid square dancers and golfers. They were members of the Wheel ‘n’ Dealer Square Dance Club. Robert learned to play golf after he retired. He played regularly with his foursome and enjoyed trying new courses all over the state. He played his last round of golf at age 96 in the fall of 2013.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, siblings and two grandsons, Blane and Andy Anderson. He is survived by two sons, John (Eileen Holst) of Arizona, Jack (Barbara Blakeslee) of Pennsylvania and a daughter, Joy (Gene) Anderson of Burlington. Surviving also are grandchildren, Jennifer Rayman, Jessica (Kevin) Early, Joshua (Kelly) Rayman, Jamie (Urvi Parikh) Rayman, Megan Rayman, Kiki (Coy) Chanders and Heidi (Hagan Myers) Anderson. Fourteen great grandchildren also survive, two sisters-in-law, Rosemary (Richard) Rayman, Ellen (Leslie) Olsen, and multiple nieces and nephews.

Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.hrabakfuneralhome.com under ‘obituaries’. *