Obit: Kaddatz, Raymond "Ray" E. (1919 - 2006)

Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kaddatz, Albright, Sternitzky

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, WI.) November 8, 2006

Kaddatz, Raymond "Ray" E. (January 21, 1919 - November 5, 2006)

Raymond E. Kaddatz, age 87, 311 19th Avenue South, Wisconsin Rapids, died November 5, 2006 at his residence after a courageous battle with lung cancer.

Ray was born on Jan. 21, 1919, in Chili, Wis., to the late Gustav and Erma (Albright) Kaddatz. He married June Sternitzky on November 15, 1947, in Granton. Ray was employed at American Stores Condensery in Neillsville for 8 ½ years before enlisting in the National Guard. He was called into service and received training in Louisiana from October 18, 1940, until his discharge in October of 1941. He was called back to active duty with the Amphibious Forces of the U. S. Navy during World War II. He served aboard the landing ship LSM 274 for 1 ½ years in the South Pacific which included the invasion and battle of Okinawa. He was honorably discharged with the rating of Radio Man Second Class.

Ray joined the Marshfield Police Department on September 1, 1953, and served as an officer until April 1, 1957. He then accepted the position of Deputy Sheriff with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department as a radio operator/jailer. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on April 15, 1971. He retired on April 1, 1979, after 22 years of service.

Following his retirement from the Sheriff’s Department, he continued to be an active volunteer at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and drove a school bus for South Wood County Head Start for five years. He also was a member of the American Legion, as well as the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed spending time with family, walks, and his wife’s flower garden.

Ray is survived by his wife, June, of Wisconsin Rapids; two sons, Terry (Gerie), of Plover and Randy (Carrie), of Wisconsin Rapids; one daughter, Sheri, of Woodbury, Minn.; four grandchildren, Kara, Dana, Maeghan and Jessica; and three great-grandchildren, Deyton, Louis and Mason.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Donald; one sister Lillian and one son Gary.

Services were on Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. Martin Baur officiated. Burial was in Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Ray will be remembered as a patient, compassionate man who put the wishes of others ahead of his own. A loving husband, father and grandfather, Ray will be missed.

A special thank-you: to the staff of UW Cancer Center - Riverview and Ministry Home Care Hospice, friends and family for all their help and support. Memorials may be designated in Ray’s name to the American Cancer Society or Ministry Home Care Hospice.