Raymond Pritchard

Tuesday, August 25, 2015 1:40 pm

Raymond Pritchard, 76, of Decorah, died Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn. A memorial Mass is at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah, with Rev. Phillip Gibbs officiating. Organist is Mary Beth Bouska. Cantor is Brandi Hemesath. Hymns are “Here I Am Lord,” “O Lord I Am Not Worthy,” “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art.” Lectors are Blake Pritchard, Jessica Pritchard Ritter and Jeremy Alexander. Offertory gift bearers are Rick and Randy Pritchard. Eucharistic minister are Mary Jane Maly. Honorary casket bearers are Jim Murphy, Skip Welter, Gene Aylsworth, John Rilling, Don Rilling, Rick Holthaus and Dale Cowell. Interment is at a later date in the Wadena Cemetery, Wadena. Arrangements are being handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Decorah.

Raymond Dennis Pritchard was born June 16, 1939, the son of Roscoe “Ole” and Marie (Johnson) Pritchard, near Wadena. Ray graduated from Wadena High School in 1957. After high school, Ray worked for the State Conservation in Des Moines as a surveyor. Ray married Joann Logan Feb. 27, 1960, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sumner. They farmed together near Wadena from 1960 until 1980. Ray and Joann moved to Decorah in 1980, after taking a job with Ludlow Community Dairy as a field man. In 1987 Ray went to work at Camcar in Decorah, where he worked until retiring in 1995 due to health issues. In January of 2007, Ray went to live at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home. Ray was a member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid ball player. He started Ray’s Rascals little league team in Wadena for the neighborhood kids. Ray enjoyed visiting with people and was an avid card player. He took great pride in his work and his family.

Raymond is survived by his wife, Joann Pritchard, Decorah; four sons: Rick (Kris) Pritchard, Huntsville, Texas, Randy (Stephanie) Pritchard, Berryville, Va., Scott Pritchard, Las Vegas, Nev. and John Pritchard, Whitewater, Wis.; seven grandchildren: Renee Pritchard, Jessica (John) Ritter, Skylar Pritchard, Blake, Laurel (Jeremy Alexander), Garrett and Sydney Pritchard; sisters, Helen (Dan) Berns, Richland Center, Wis. and Irma Jane Bernard, Onalaska, Wis.; sister-in-law, Ethel Logan, West Des Moines; brother-in-law,  John “Jack” Logan, Independence.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, Roscoe “Ole” and Marie (Johnson) Pritchard; father- and mother-in-law, John and Mercedes Logan; sister-in-law, Denise Logan; brothers-in-law, Richard Wheeler and Ray Logan.