Raymond Schoenecker, 91

Raymond J. Schoenecker, 91, of New Prague, died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, at the Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital in New Prague. Ray was born February 28, 1921, in Belle Plaine To w n s h i p , Scott County, a son of John J. and Adeline (Busch) Schoenecker. A lifelong resident of the New Prague area, he attended St. Wenceslaus School and graduated from New Prague High School. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army for four years during WWII, and was a member of the 20th Armored Division that helped liberate the Dachau Concentration Camp. Ray married Dorothy “Dor” Matyas on August 18, 1945, in New Prague. He was owner/operator of the New Prague Feed Mill. Previous to that he worked at the New Prague Robin Hood Flour Mill, and was the local Scott’s Fertilizer dealer for many years. He was a member of the 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and the New Prague VFW (3rd Commander) and American Legion (Senior Vice Commander). Ray was a member of the New Prague Fire Department for 31 years, serving as chief from 1971-78. He had also served as president of the MN Valley Region Fire Dept. He was a former commander of the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard (member 57 years), and was a former New Prague mayor (two terms) and city council member (27 years). Ray was a member of the New Prague Sportsman’s Club for more than 30 years, serving as chairman of annual tree distribution and volunteer on the Woodduck House Building Committee. He also held membership in Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and the Wild Turkey Federation, and was a charter member of the Scott-Le Sueur MN Waterfowl Assn. He is survived by his wife; children Susan (John) Bilek, Pine River, Edward (Kathleen), Bloomington, Douglas (Vera), New Prague, and Mary Ray (Paul) Jirik, Lonsdale; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and siblings Aurelia Mares, New Prague, Verena Moriarity, Forest Lake, and Lorraine Dvorak, Minneapolis. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister Lillian Quinlan. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m., at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in New Prague, with Rev. Kevin Clinton officiating. Interment is at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in New Prague. Serving as pallbearers are grandsons Aaron Schoenecker, Matthew Bilek, Ryan Jirik, Evan Schoenecker, Michael Jirik and Collin Schoenecker. Visitation was held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the Bruzek Funeral Home in New Prague.