Obituaries : Ray Van Steenhuyse

Vinton—Ray Van Steenhuyse, age 86, died peacefully Friday, July 01, 2011 surrounded by his family at Deerfield Retirement Community in Urbandale.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Vinton with Rev. Ardel Barta as celebrant. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery with military rites by the Emil H. Dutler American Legion Post of Mt Auburn and the Iowa Military Funeral Honors. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 5 at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton with a Scripture Service at 7:30 p.m. and on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until mass time at the church.

Raphael Raymond Van Steenhuyse was born April 24, 1925 at Fairfax, Iowa, to Walter and Louise (Simmons) Van Steenhuyse. After graduating from Van Horne High School, Ray served his country during WWII as an Army Air Force nose gunner in a B24 bomber, stationed throughout Europe and North Africa.

On August 27, 1947, Ray and Helen Walsh were married in Williamsburg, IA. They started their farming career near Mt. Auburn in 1949. He was a pioneer in minimum tillage farming practices.

Ray served on numerous boards, including Vinton Lions Club, Iowa Ham Processing, State Bank of Vinton and Vinton Country Club. He was a longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Vinton, the Knights of Columbus and the Mt. Auburn American Legion.

Ray and Helen loved family gatherings, entertaining friends and being involved in their local communities. He was an avid hunter, golfer and bridge player. He and Helen enjoyed winters in Mesa, AZ, with their “Arizona snowbird family” for many years. Ray never met a stranger.

Ray is survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen; five children: Frank (Kathleen) Van Steenhuyse, Vinton, Tom Stonehouse, Palm Springs, CA, Dan (Nancy) Van Steenhuyse, Vinton, Mary (Bob) McLaury, Washington DC, Amy (Kurt) Lau, Des Moines; ten grandchildren: Todd (Jenn) Van Steenhuyse, Kate (Ryan) Gates, Mark (Abby) Van Steenhuyse, Ann Van Steenhuyse, TJ (Tessa) Van Steenhuyse, Laura Van Steenhuyse, Jessica Harding, Michael, Tommy and Elizabeth Lau; two great grandsons, Ray Van Steenhuyse and Maxwell Gates; two brothers, Gerald (Kate) Van Steenhuyse, Williamsburg, IA, Earl Van Steenhuyse, Newport Beach, CA; one sister, Rita (Ed) Bower, Williamsburg, IA, numerous nieces and nephews and special family friend, Jim Edwards.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Leo; and sister, Mary Frazier.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Ray and his family. Online condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.