Raymond Allen Mahnke July 03, 1960 – February 15, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers Sign Guestbook| View Guest Book Entries| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Raymond (Ray) Allen Mahnke of Chaska, MN, age 58, passed away suddenly of cardiac arrest on Friday, February 15th, 2019 on Hydes Lake while ice fishing with family in Norwood Young America, MN. Celebration of Life is on Saturday, February 23rd, 12 noon, at Bertas Funeral Home, 200 W 3rd Street, Chaska, with time of sharing starting at 10 AM. Visitation also Friday from 5-8 PM, at the funeral home.
Rev. Dean Seal from Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church in Chaska will be celebrating Ray’s life. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to the family or the American Heart Association.
Born and Raised in Ashland, WI, Ray was the second of four children born to David and Edith (Olsen) Mahnke on July 3rd, 1960. Ray graduated from Ashland High School with the Class of 1978 and graduated from WITC Ashland in 1979. Ray was employed as a Welder for over 10-years with Republic Services in Eden Prairie, MN.
Over the course of his life, Ray also worked in Auto Mechanics, HVAC and Clean Room Technology. Anyone who worked with Ray knew he liked to train people the “Right Way” to do things. In 1979, Ray met his loving wife Judi L. (Kettner) Mahnke and the couple were married on August 16th, 1980 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Ashland, WI.
Ray and Judi’s marriage was blessed with five beautiful children. All who knew Ray knew that he loved his family fiercely and was immensely proud of all of them. His family was his entire world and he would drop anything to lend a helping hand.
He always said: “Family Takes Care of Family”. Ray was a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Tribe of Odanah, WI. Some of his fondest memories to share were of the countless hours of hunting and fishing with his sons.
Ray enjoyed watching his daughter, Erin, play soccer growing up and could be frequently heard yelling “Hammer Down, Sweet Pea! ” along the sidelines. Ray also loved watching Professional Soccer on the FIFA Channel.
He was interested in Genealogy and rebuilding Ford engines. His fondest childhood memories included being at his Grampa’s Henry’s cabin on Hermit Island near Bayfield, WI Ray is survived by his wife of 38 years Judi Mahnke, Chaska; sons, Ian Mahnke & Michelle Moravitz, Sauk Rapids, Cory & Lisa (Moyer) Mahnke, Norwood Young America, Eric & Susan (Westerholm) Mahnke, Chaska; daughter, Erin Mahnke and Fiancée Jeff Hammer, Plymouth; five Grandchildren, Jayden Mahnke-Moe, Matthew Mahnke, Leland Moravitz, Emma Mahnke and Parker Mahnke; brothers, David & Robin (Weister) Mahnke, Ashland WI, Robert & Lori (Hultman) Mahnke, Ashland, WI, Barry Mahnke, Ashland, WI; father-in-law, James H. Kettner Sr. of Washburn, WI; brother-in-law, James H. Jr. & Monica (Gehring) Kettner, Kearney, NE; four nieces and a nephew. Ray is preceded in death by grandparents, Henry & Ruth (Reynolds) Olsen, Herbert & Evelyn (Larson) Mahnke; parents, David & Edith (Olsen) Mahnke; mother-in-law, Gertrude L. (Anderson) Kettner and infant son, Joseph Henry Mahnke.
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