Raymond Mechtel

NAME Raymond "Ray" S. Mechtel, age 82, of St. Charles, IL, passed away at Delnor Community Hospital, Friday, September 12, 2008. BORN: He was born April 16, 1926, the son of Albert and Julia (Mika) Mechtel in Chicago, IL.EARLY YEARS :Ray grew up in Chicago and attended local schools graduating with the class of 1943. MILITARY: Shortly after graduation he was drafted into the United States Air Corp. Ray served his country during WWII in the South Pacific Theatre as a gunner on the B-29 bomber. After his honorable discharge and return to civilian life, Ray returned to college and studied at Wright Junior College in Chicago where he found someone very special in one of his art classes.MARRIAGE Ray was united in marriage on April 1st, 1950 in Chicago to Marilyn Farland. Although it was fools day, Ray was no fool and spent the next 58 years in love with the same woman. They began their new life together throughout the Chicago area but made a home in Franklin Park where they began to raise a family. OCCUPATION / WORK HISTORY Ray worked for a few years for his brother in the sign business. Ray was an entrepreneur at heart so after hours and on weekends he would venture out looking for local shops and businesses that needed his expertise. He would then bring home his work and would paint the signs and Marilyn would deliver them to the various neighborhood businesses. Soon the number of clients rose to the point where Ray began his own full time business in the late 1950’s. The family moved to Wheaton during the summer of 1964. Ray continued working from home which enabled his children to have a least one parent around the house which in turn made mischief a little more difficult to achieve. In 1973 the family moved once more to St. Charles on Whitney Rd where they have since made their home. LIFE NOTES In his early years Ray loved to play baseball but later he played softball in the church league, eventually playing alongside his son. He was also a member of the church bowling league in Wheaton. He worked in his garden and after the kids were grown he and Marilyn rode horses out into the woods to have a picnic. Ray was handy with his tools and could find a way to fix just about anything. He also had the gift of painting. Marilyn and Ray took to the sea on several cruises to make miles of nautical memories. In later years they vacationed with a seniors group that stayed at local universities where they would see the sights and then spend time in front of a canvas capturing their beauty. Practical jokes were the norm back in Franklin Park and his feet never stopped moving on the dance floor. For many years Ray played in local bands and would back up his fellow band mates on the piano, organ, saxophone, guitar or accordion. Annual Christmas parties in December and picnics in the summer brought friends from far and wide. SURVIVORS He now leaves his loving wife Marilyn of St. Charles, IL Three children: Gail Frey of Brodhead, WI,Gary (Deborah) Mechtel of Clarksville, MD, Diane Hansel of Genoa, IL;Five grandchildren:Dan Frey and his daughter, Danielle of Sycamore, Chris Frey of Sycamore, Samantha and Erika Hansel of Genoa and Erik Mechtel of Clarksville, MD;Several nieces and nephews and a family of friends. PRECEDED He now joins his parents, one sister Lillian Canham and one brother Albert Mechtel who preceded him in death.

VISITATION / FUNERAL Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. A funeral to celebrate his life will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, Lily Lake, at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 17, 2008. Interment will follow at Mt. Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst, IL.

MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in his name at Grace Lutheran Church. Checks may be made to the "Mechtel Memorial at Grace Lutheran" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through www.conleycare.com