Raymond Matthees of South Haven died Sunday, July 4, 2004, at the Annandale Care Center where he had been a resident for the past 21 months. He was 90. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 8, at Zion Lutheran Church in Annandale with Rev. Thomas Queck officiating. Burial will follow in Concordia Lutheran Cemetery in Fair haven. Friends may call from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday and 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church. There will be a prayer service at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Raymond J. Matthees was born Jan. 7, 1914, in Fair Haven Township, Stearns County, to John and Ida (Hinz) Matthees. He served during World War II in the U.S. Army. Ray married Edna Phelps Barnick Aug. 29, 1957. He farmed in Fair Haven Township and was active in real estate sales and development; he owned Ray’s Realty. Ray was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, a former member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Fair Haven and Holy Cross Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. He was a life member of the Clearwater American Legion Post #323 and St. Cloud East Side VFW Post #4847. He was a former member and chair of the Kimball Board of Education, and a former member, board member and president of the St. Cloud Board of Realtors. He was a charter member of the Fair Haven, Clearwater and Clear Lake Lions Clubs. Ray was preceded in death by his brothers Edwin and Victor Matthees, and sister Esther Strecker. He is survived by his wife Edna; children John Raymond (and Krista) Matthees Sr., and Mary (and Michael) Hemminger Sr., both of South Haven; five grandchildren: John Raymond Matthees Jr., Char Rae Matthees Reid, Michael Hemminger Jr., Nick Hemminger and Blake Hemminger; four great-grandchildren: Mackenzie and Lauren Matthees, and Camryn and Taylor Reid. Ray’s grandchildren will serve as pallbearers, Kathy Queck as organist, and Doug Kantor as vocalist. Arrangements were by Dingmann Funeral Care of Annandale.
