RAYMOND A. MEERSTEIN

Raymond A. Meerstein, age 90, 19 Birch Lane, Plymouth, went to be with his Lord early Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, at the Plymouth Care Center where he has been a patient the past two weeks.

He was born May 21, 1919 in Plymouth, a son of the late Alfred and Ella (Abraham) Meerstein Sr. He attended St. John Lutheran School in Plymouth and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1937.

In 1941, he married Leona Stephan in the rectory of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. They made their home in the town of Plymouth owning and operating their own mink ranch for 17 years. Leona passed away May of 1973.

In June of 1976, he married Vivian Thackary Jahr at St. John Lutheran Church in Plymouth. They made their home in the Greenbush area. Vivian passed away in February of 1979.

On March 21, 1981, he married Agnes Anders Meyer at St. John Lutheran Church making their home in Plymouth.

Ray had been employed at Lakeshire Marty, The Milwaukee Road railway, the Kohler Co. and Tecumseh Products in Sheboygan Falls, where he retired from after 20 years.

Ray was an avid sports fan, following all sports. In his younger years he played hardball, playing in the Kettle Moraine Greenbush championship team of 1939 and on the Eastern Wisconsin Championship team of Plymouth in 1941 and in 1946 he pitched Schultz’s tavern to the City Championship in fast-pitch softball.

He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Plymouth.

Survivors include his wife Agnes; three children: two sons, James of Eau Claire, Wis., and Don (Lynn) Meerstein of Plymouth and one daughter, Janice (Joe) Kohlmann of Plymouth; three stepchildren: Larry (Cindy) Meyer of Sheboygan Falls, Victor (Debbie) Meyer of Plymouth and Dale (Lisa) Meyer of Madison; 13 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson; 13 step grandchildren and nine step great-grandchildren; one brother, Alfred Meerstein of Plymouth; two sisters, Luetta Lehman of Baraboo, Wis., and Donna (William) Gray of Berreyville, Alaska; six sisters-in-law: Cathy Warzalas of Milwaukee, Marcy Bennington of Clark Mills, Wis., Vivian Meerstein of Plymouth and Sylvia Anders of Milwaukee; one brother-in-law, Wm. Mastopitro of Milwaukee; one step daughter-in-law, Marylynn Stone of Adell; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Delores Owens and Beatrice Buelke; two brothers, Victor and Elmer; three sistersin law, Lorraine Meerstein, Joan Stephan and Marge Suemnicht; and three stepchildren, three step grandchildren, six brothers-in-law and three sisters-in-law.

Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the Wittkopp-Schneider Funeral Home in Plymouth. The Rev. Thomas Burton will officiate. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Plymouth.

Friends may call at the Wittkopp-Schneider Funeral Home from 4 p.m. Tuesday until the hour of service.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in Ray’s name for St. John Lutheran Church and School.

The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to the staff of Plymouth Care Center, the VNA Hospice, Dr. Michael Brooks, Dr. Lori Brooks and Dr. Mark Sharon for the loving care shown to Ray and his family. Online condolences may be sent to www.wittkoppschneider.com.