Raymond Riemer, 1925-2018

Published 1:00 am Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Memorial services for Raymond F. Riemer of Albert Lea will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Ascension Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Mark Boorsma will officiate. Visitation will be at the church one hour before services. Interment will be in Concordia Bear Lake Cemetery in the spring. Bonnerup Funeral Service is assisting the family.

Raymond Riemer

Ray died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea. He was 93.

He was born Jan. 8, 1925, in Nunda Township, the son of Raymond F. and Inez C. (Hoverson) Riemer. He attended country school and then graduated from Emmons High School.

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Ray married Juliann “Julie” M. Heine on June 29, 1947, at Concordia Lutheran Church Pickerel Lake in rural Albert Lea. They were together nearly 64 years, until her death Feb. 15, 2011. He farmed until his marriage and then sold Surge Milking equipment for a short time before beginning his career in carpentry. He worked for various union contractors in the area, spending many years with Hanson Zimney Construction as a construction superintendent. He started Ray Riemer Construction in 1976 and worked there until his retirement.

Ray and Julie were members of Ascension Lutheran Church for more than 50 years and were involved in many church activities. Ray enjoyed the church dartball league, and he and Julie enjoyed making lefse for the church’s annual bazaar and for their family. He was often in his shop with woodworking projects for Julie and his kids. Ray was an avid reader of history — especially interested in history of the Civil War, World War I and World War II. In his later years, he enjoyed the camaraderie of the Kiwanis Golden K2 Club.

Ray is survived by three sons, Bruce R. (Jane) of Albert Lea, Richard A. (Karen) of Minneapolis and David L. (Shirley) of rural Conger; six grandchildren, Christopher (Carla) Riemer of Belle Plaine, Michael (Rebecca) Riemer of Minneapolis, Annie (Dave) Heuer of Roseville, Jessica Riemer of Minneapolis, Katie Riemer of St. Paul and Elizabeth Riemer of Portland, Oregon; and great-grandchildren Juliann and Justin Riemer and Alice and Louis Riemer. He is also survived by sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Delores Riemer of Albert Lea, Marie Nelson of St. Petersburg, Florida, Lois Mortenson of Fayetteville, Arizona, Shirley (Larry) Peterson of St. Joseph and Sandra Heine of Conger; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Juliann; his parents; infant son, Bruce Fredrick Riemer; brother, Lloyd Riemer; and several sisters- and brothers-in-law.

The family extends a sincere thank you to the wonderful staff of Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea for the care, love and compassion given to Ray.

As a contractor and as a volunteer, Ray was responsible for many construction projects at Ascension Lutheran over the years. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials to the Ascension Lutheran Church Building Improvements Fund.