Raymond E. Eggemeier
June 23, 1931 - December 21, 2024
FREEPORT -- Raymond E. Eggemeier, 93, of Freeport, passed away Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport.
Raymond Edward Eggemeier was born June 23, 1931, in Davis, to Edward and Alma (Tielke) Eggemeier. At a young age, Ray and his younger brother, Kenneth, went to live at St. Vincent Orphanage in Freeport. Ray was a drummer in the St. Vincent band. He also spent a lot of time with John and Sarah Plenger and their children, who were like a second family. At the orphanage, he was brought up in the Catholic faith and then went to Aquin Central Catholic High School.
After graduating from Aquin in 1951, Ray enlisted in the U.S. Navy and entered active service on Nov. 13, 1951, at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago. Ray proudly served for 4 years during the Korean War. He enjoyed telling many stories about his travels and duties with the Navy. He was assigned to the USS Pittsburgh (CA-72). The family enjoyed finding Navy memorabilia to add to his collection. A large photo of his beloved ship had a special place on the living room wall.
Ray returned to Freeport after his naval service, where he met the woman who would be his wife for 65 years. He married Sandra Ludewig June 27, 1959, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Freeport.
Ray was a 42-year employee of Micro Switch, a division of Honeywell. He worked in the shipping department, but spent much of his time on the road, transporting expedited parts or giving company guests the VIP treatment while driving them to and from the airport.
A passionate sports fan, many of the locals will remember seeing Ray around town dressed in his endless stream of Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears shirts, jackets and caps. His love of the Cubs was passed along to his children, and they shared in his suffering. The Cubs' 2016 World Series championship gave him the strength to continue watching Bears games.
Family was always Ray's first priority and he was happiest when he could attend his children's and grandchildren's school activities. He was always there for anything from sporting events to dance recitals and the celebration of educational milestones. He also coached a team in the Catholic youth basketball league for many years.
Ray was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and the Freeport Eagles Club. He was a former member of the Aquin Booster Club and Freeport Moose Lodge, where he and his wife had many happy times with family and friends.
Surviving are his wife, Sandra, of Freeport; three children, Pam Eggemeier, Doug (Sally) Eggemeier, and Lisa (Craig) VanDrew, all of Freeport; two granddaughters, Amanda (Jeff) Allis of Chicago, and Haley (Ali Al-ashail) of Afolkey; a great-granddaughter, Ellie Allis of Chicago; one sister, Charlotte Ditsworth, of Freeport; special sister-in-law, Jeanne Broderick, and her husband, Frank; and several cherished nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and 11 brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home, 504 N. Walnut Ave., in Freeport. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, at the funeral home.
Burial, with military rites, will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 2514 Illinois 26 South in Freeport.
A memorial fund has been established for a cause yet to be determined.
Saturday, December 28, 2024
9:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)
Burke Tubbs Funeral Home - Freeport
Saturday, December 28, 2024
Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)
Burke Tubbs Funeral Home - Freeport
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