Raymond F. Van De Wiele age 81 of Tracy, formerly of Walnut Grove passed away Monday, February 3, 2014 at Prairie View Senior Living in Tracy surrounded by his family.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, February 7 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Walnut Grove with visitation one hour prior to the service.  Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 6 at the Tracy Area Funeral Home with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service.  Burial is in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Walnut Grove.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials to Prairie View Senior Living in Tracy and Compassionate Care Hospice in Worthington.  Stephens Funeral Service – Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.  Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com.

Raymond F. Van De Wiele was born July 19, 1932 on the family farm in Springdale Township, Redwood County, Minnesota, to George and Elisa (Maeyaert) Van De Wiele.  He was baptized on July 24th, 1932 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy, and he was later confirmed there as a youth.  Ray attended country school northeast of Tracy, and later attended Walnut Grove Public School.  On August 20, 1952, Ray was united in marriage to Beverly Lavicky at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy.  Ray was drafted into the U.S. Army on January 28, 1953 and served during the Korean War.  He received his honorable discharge on December 2, 1954.  After his military service, Ray returned to the Walnut Grove area.  He began dairy farming northeast of Walnut Grove in North Hero Township.  Together the couple lived on the home farm for 25 years until 1983 when they moved one mile to the west.  They lived there another 25 years before moving to Tracy in 2008.  Over the years Ray did assorted custom welding work with metals, and he enjoyed working on his own machinery.  Ray served as Commander of the American Legion Alfred Nelson Post 267 in Walnut Grove, and was an active member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Walnut Grove.  Ray enjoyed spending time on the lakes fishing, pontooning, and boating.   Another of Ray’s hobbies he enjoyed was playing rolle bolle.  Ray and Bev experienced many travels together including Alaska, Mexico, and Florida.  They also spent four years wintering in Arizona.  Ray loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ray is survived by his wife of 61 years, Bev of Tracy; children: Fran (Teresa) of Garvin, Jeff (Sharri) of Milroy, Laurie (Greg) Vosberg of Tracy, and Lisa (Tim) Schenk of Harrisburg, SD; grandchildren: Travis Van De Wiele (Kim Keul), Amy (Eric) Trulock & Abby (Michael) Hubin, SrA Philip (SrA Laira) Van De Wiele, Derek, Dayna, & Destiny Vosberg, Lance Corporal Mitchell Schenk, and Meagan Schenk; great-grandchildren: Sydney Vanderwall & Olivia Van De Wiele, Hattie, Lilly, & Aubrey Trulock, Mikayla, Gabrielle, & Reilly Hubin.  He is further survived by his siblings: Alice Vandendriessche, Julie (Jim) Claeys, twin brother Rich (Pearl) Van De Wiele, Maurice (Judy) Van De Wiele; brothers-in-law Fran (Marcia) Lavicky and Denny Lavicky; and many other relatives and friends.  He is preceded in death by his parents George and Elisa, mother and father-in-law Ted and Lil Lavicky, grandson-in-law Chris Hannasch, brothers Oscar and Augie Van De Wiele, sister Mary Vandeputte, sisters-in-law Rita and Marlene, brothers-in-law Don Vandeputte and Paul Vandendriessche.