- Born on: November 28, 1926
- Departed on: July 4, 2020
- Resided in: Parkersburg, IA
Raymond Siems
Raymond Siems, 93, died peacefully on July 4, 2020 at Parker Place Retirement Community in Parkersburg, IA. Graveside services will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Parkersburg on Friday, July 10 at 9:30am.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Shirley (Dreesman), of Cedar Falls; five children, sons Kent (Ann), Kevin, Terry, daughters Vickie (Peter) Van Ness and Nancy (John) Scheel, 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
Raymond Siems was born in Kesley, IA to Carl and Fannie (Johnson) Siems on November 28, 1926. Ray was the eldest of four children. Ray’s parents and siblings all preceded him in death.
When Ray was a young child the family moved to Parkersburg. At age 14, he began working at Kesley Creamery wrapping 600 pounds of butter a day. He also drove a grain truck, a lime truck and worked at Rath Packing Company. At age 18 he was called into the Army and was honorably discharged after surviving Rheumatic Fever.
After returning from the Army, Ray joined the American Legion Post #285 in Parkersburg and was a lifetime member. Ray worked several jobs, married Hilda Smeins in January 1953 and began working for his father as a carpenter and cabinet maker. Ray and his father build most of the new houses south of Highway 14. Ray and Hilda had twin boys (Kent and Kevin) in 1958. Hilda and their daughter, Terri, both tragically died in childbirth in 1962.
On June 14, 1963 Ray married Shirley Dreesman of Aplington and they had three children together (son Terry, daughters Vickie and Nancy). Ray and Shirley had several family businesses together including an auction house, installing power washers and making wooden crafts for consignment stores and craft shows. Ray also worked at UNI in maintenance and retired in 1988. In his retirement Ray enjoyed gardening, canning, his John Deere tractor and mowing lawns.
Ray and Shirley lived in Parkersburg until May, 2008 when the EF5 tornado destroyed their home that Ray and his father had built in 1966. After the tornado, Ray and Shirley moved to Cedar Falls where Shirley lives now.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Shirley (Dreesman), of Cedar Falls; five children, sons Kent (Ann), Kevin, Terry, daughters Vickie (Peter) Van Ness and Nancy (John) Scheel, 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
Raymond Siems was born in Kesley, IA to Carl and Fannie (Johnson) Siems on November 28, 1926. Ray was the eldest of four children. Ray’s parents and siblings all preceded him in death.
When Ray was a young child the family moved to Parkersburg. At age 14, he began working at Kesley Creamery wrapping 600 pounds of butter a day. He also drove a grain truck, a lime truck and worked at Rath Packing Company. At age 18 he was called into the Army and was honorably discharged after surviving Rheumatic Fever.
After returning from the Army, Ray joined the American Legion Post #285 in Parkersburg and was a lifetime member. Ray worked several jobs, married Hilda Smeins in January 1953 and began working for his father as a carpenter and cabinet maker. Ray and his father build most of the new houses south of Highway 14. Ray and Hilda had twin boys (Kent and Kevin) in 1958. Hilda and their daughter, Terri, both tragically died in childbirth in 1962.
On June 14, 1963 Ray married Shirley Dreesman of Aplington and they had three children together (son Terry, daughters Vickie and Nancy). Ray and Shirley had several family businesses together including an auction house, installing power washers and making wooden crafts for consignment stores and craft shows. Ray also worked at UNI in maintenance and retired in 1988. In his retirement Ray enjoyed gardening, canning, his John Deere tractor and mowing lawns.
Ray and Shirley lived in Parkersburg until May, 2008 when the EF5 tornado destroyed their home that Ray and his father had built in 1966. After the tornado, Ray and Shirley moved to Cedar Falls where Shirley lives now.
