Raymond G. Mckenzie

BARABOO – Raymond G. McKenzie, age 78 of Baraboo, and formerly of Madison and Montello, passed away on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at St. Marys Hospital in Madison. He was born Jan. 13, 1933 in Burlington, Wis., the son of Donald and Edith (Eddy) McKenzie. He was one of 17 children growing-up in Merrimac, Wis. Ray is a retired Chief Petty Officer with 17 years with the U.S. Navy, and he served three years with the U.S. Marine Corps. He was in the Korean War and served in Vietnam. He was an instructor at the Great Lakes Naval Base and served with the Mobile Training Team. After Ray retired in 1971, he worked for Oscar Mayer for 23 years. Following his retirement from Oscar Mayer, he worked for the Marquette County, delivering meals for the Commission on Aging. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Bonnie (Mickelson) McKenzie; 14 brothers and sisters, Edith (Edwin) Hagedorn, Beverly (Paul) Owings, Phyllis Denzer, Robert McKenzie, Janice Newkirk, William (Faye) McKenzie, Joanne Lewis, Russell (Ernestine) McKenzie, Betty Checky, Marge (Rudy) Dlapa, Mike (Joanne) McKenzie, Judy (Mike) Schnaufer, Jenifer (Bob) Gehri, Katherine Zietz; a sister-in-law, Joyce Stolen; and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Ray was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, Danny; a brother, Ricky who was killed while serving in Vietnam; a sister-in-law, Joan McKenzie; and four brothers-in-law, Pat Newkirk, Lemon Denzer, Vastine Lewis and Steve Checky. Ray was a courageous man, enduring nine years of kidney dialysis. The family extends their thanks and appreciation to the staff at the Baraboo Dialysis Center, the nurses and doctors who worked with Ray, and all the Home Health Nurses. A special thanks to Jan, Missy, Gary and Joyce for all the time they spent with Ray at the hospital. He will be sadly missed and remembered for his great sense of humor, the courage he had, and the love for his Lord, family, friends and beloved pets. Services will be held at BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison on Monday, March 21, 2011 at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Inurnment will be at Sunset Memory Gardens, Madison.