Raymond I. Quarberg
Raymond I. Quarberg, age 86 of Arkansaw, died Saturday, August 15, 2015 at the Chippewa Valley Hospital in Durand with his family by his side.
Ray was born on May 14, 1929 in Modena. He was the son of Isaac and Rose (Paulson) Quarberg. He grew up in the Norwegian Valley area of the Town of Nelson, rural Buffalo County. Ray graduated from the Nelson High School in 1948. After high school, Ray bought a farm in the Modena area. Ray married Arlene Reinhardt on December 21, 1949 at the Lyster Lutheran Church in Urne. Together Ray and Arlene farmed and raised their three children in Modena. Ray also worked for Ristow Construction building homes in the Alma area for 5 years. Arlene passed away on June 22, 1988. Ray married Rosetta (Lehmann) Kaempf on August 3, 1991 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Durand and gained three more children to his family. After marriage, Ray and Rosetta lived in Durand where Ray continued to farm in Modena with his son, Greg. Ray continued to farm with Greg through 2014. In 1999, Ray and Rosetta moved to their current home in Arkansaw where he remained the rest of his life.
Ray enjoyed woodworking, making toy barns, birdhouses and dollhouses. He also liked collecting toy tractors, especially Internationals. Ray enjoyed his coffee time and talking with friends. He always enjoyed children and was always known as “Uncle or Grandpa Ray.” Most of all Ray loved to spend time with family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Ray is survived by his wife of 24 years; Rosetta, six children; Janine (Brian) Ruff of Alma, Greg (Marie) of Modena, Brad (Gail) of La Crosse, Ronald (Joan) Kaempf of Arkansaw, Rebecca (Charles) Weber of Elmwood and Dean Kaempf of Elmwood, 12 grandchildren; Josh (Meg), Amber (Jamie), Elizabeth (Jerry), Nathan (Jennifer), Emily, Nicolas, Merideth, Thomas, Michael, Nathan, Kari (Isaac) and Christopher (Friend, Laura), six great grandchildren; Morgan, Benjamin, Ella, Katelyn, Addison and Abigail, two sisters-in-law; Gertrude Quarberg of Nelson and Pat Quarberg of Sauk City, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Ray is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Arlene; three brothers; Merle, Armin and Alvern Quarberg and one sister, Melvina Amdahl.
Funeral Services were held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Durand. Rev. Dan Pfaffe officiated. Burial was in the Modena Cemetery.
Rhiel Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Durand, is serving the family.
Condolences may be made online at www.rhielfuneralhome.com.
