Obituary of Raymond W. Schnabel

Raymond W. Schnabel, Sr. Age 81, of Unity, passed away early Saturday morning, August 31, 2013 at his residence with family at his bedside. Care for Raymond and his family provided by Ministry Home Care Hospice. Funeral services will be held at 11AM on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer. The Rev. Teri Hanson and Rev. Kenneth A. Dix will officiate. Entombment will follow in Hillside Cemetery, Marshfield with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 54 of Marshfield. Friends may call on Saturday at the funeral home from 9AM until time of services. Pallbearers will be Christopher, Jonathon, Nicholas and Mitchell Schnabel. Honorary pallbearer will be Jessica Schnabel. Raymond was born June 24, 1932 in the Town of Hull, Marathon County, son of the late William and Lydia (Alexander) Schnabel. He attended Pleasant Hill School at Colby, later at March Rapids Tendeferg School then on to Stratford High School. While attending school Ray worked part-time for area cheese factories, his family farm as well as on neighbor’s farms. In 1952, Ray joined the United States Army and entered parachute school where he attained his “jumpers wings” and earned the rank of Special Sergeant. On June 26, 1954 he married Bonnie Buddinger in the church now known as the First United Church of Christ in Colby. His employment included Service Bakery, Bauman Poultry Farms, Weyerhaeuser in Marshfield with retirement from Felker Brothers of Marshfield in 1997. After retiring, Ray enjoyed helping his son Randy with farming chores. Hobbies included watching basketball and football games, fishing, solving word search puzzles and playing along with the popular game show “Family Feud”. Ray was a member of the First United Church of Christ in Colby. Survivors include his loving wife Bonnie of 59 years, three sons: Raymond Schnabel, Jr. of Unity, Rick (Debra) Schnabel of Mosinee and Randy (Vicky) Schnabel of Unity; four grandsons Chris (Heather) Schnabel of South Milwaukee, Jonathon Schnabel of Wausau, Nick Schnabel of Unity and Mitch Schnabel of Oshkosh; one granddaughter Jessica Schnabel of Mosinee; one great grandson Evan Schnabel of South Milwaukee; two brothers: Donald (Rita) Schnabel of Curtiss and Marvin (Dixie) Schnabel of Elk Grove Village, IL; one brother-in-law Ronald Schmidt of Colby along with other nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters: Lucille Robinson and Lillian Schmidt and one nephew Donald Schmidt. The family would like to thank Dr. Gayle and the oncology staff at Marshfield Clinic and Ministry Home Care Hospice for all the care and support they all provided to Raymond. Visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share thoughts and condolences.