Raymond John Schmidt, 89, left this earth peacefully on Oct. 1, 2013, surrounded by family, at his residence at Scandia House in Isle, Minn.

He was preceded in death by parents Carl and Rose; brother Roy; sisters Laura, Erla, and baby Evelyn.

He is survived by sisters Alta Throne and Minnie Schmidt; many loving nieces and nephews; and dear friends.

Ray Schmidt was born to Carl and Rose Schmidt on Jan. 11, 1924. He grew up near Austin, Minn., and lived with an uncle after his mother passed away in childbirth when he was a young boy. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard during WWII and was honorably discharged. He then went to work with the U.S. Postal Service as a truck driver. He married Mickey Lourden and spent many years driving truck for Ratzloff Logging in Princeton. He lived briefly in Anoka, then in the Mora area, and also in Aitkin County. He was divorced from Mickey and later married Dixie Lanesboro.

Ray had a great sense of humor, which he hung onto till his death, even under difficult circumstances. As a young man, he was an athlete and an avid baseball fan, and kept that fascination his whole life. He loved bowling, and his many trophies attest to his skill. He had an interesting sense of style, loved fishing, and was said to have had a brief stint wrestling bears in a traveling circus.

Although Ray had a brain tumor, which for many years made it impossible for him to talk, he never quit trying to communicate in his own way. His quality of life and last days were made much better by the Visiting Angels of Cambridge, Scandia House of Isle, St. Croix Hospice, and Dr. Donner in Mora.

Ray left no offspring, but he did leave many — young and old — who will miss his strong independence; quiet strength; and complicated drawings to explain what he was thinking, something he was looking for, a funny joke — or, in some cases, it’s still a mystery.

A celebration of Ray’s life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12, at McQuoid’s Inn in Isle, Minn., at 1 p.m.