Raymond Citterman

Mass of Christian Burial for Raymond Paul Citterman, 95, will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno. Visitation will be Monday two hours prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the St. John Cantius Catholic Cemetery, Wilno. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby is entrusted with the arrangements.

Ray passed away Thursday, July 10, 2025, at the Hendricks Nursing Home.

Ray was born Aug. 30, 1929, to Joseph and Agnes (Friske) Citterman in Royal Township, Lincoln County. He and his twin brother, Clemance, were two of ten children (five boys and five girls) raised by Joseph and Agnes. Ray attended country school about a mile from his home to which he walked each day through 7th grade. He attended 8th grade at Ivanhoe Public School and then began his farming career with his father and brothers. He farmed his entire life, just two miles from where he grew up. He met Joyce Lanners at a dance at Bohemian Hall. She too came from a family of 10 (five boys and five girls) and they found they had a lot in common. On June 19, 1962, they were married at the St. Leo Catholic Church in St. Leo. Their marriage was blessed with four children, Judy, Steve, Jane and Douglas (who died in infancy). It is said the greatest gift a father can give his children is to love their mother with his whole heart and Ray gave that gift to his children.

Ray was a hardworking man who rarely complained. He endured hardships with a strong faith that God would provide. He was a devout Catholic who was a lifelong member of St. John Cantius Church where he received all the sacraments.

Ray’s passions included farming, gardening, bowling, dancing and playing cards. He loved all aspects of farming but running the combine was his favorite. He custom combined for many local farmers and was also a seed corn dealer. His flower gardens were beautiful and it seemed he knew how to make everything grow. He planted many seeds in his life including the seed of faith, always reminding his children and grandchildren how important it was to attend mass and pray.

He and Joyce were members of three card clubs and spent many hours at the card table. He had a competitive spirit and hated losing at cards, but being with family and friends around the card table is where he found true happiness. He was active in his children’s and grandchildren’s life and loved attending all of their sporting events. He felt there were four important things in life – prayer, family, working hard and always telling the truth.

Grateful for having shared in Ray’s life is his wife of 63 years, Joyce Citterman of Ivanhoe; his children, Judy (Kevin) Leibfried of Taunton, Steve (friend Cheri Kuhlman) of Ivanhoe, and Jane (Al) Wiener of Sauk Centre; nine grandchildren, Brad Leibfried, Lisa (Davis) Buseth, Laura (Colin) O’Rourke, Brock (Emily) Citterman, Tiffany (Tyson) Stahl, Tanner (Alexis) Citterman, Jessica (Kevin) Gruber, Katie Kulzer, and Maggie (Tyler) Busse, and 19 great-grandchildren, Max, Cooper, Reed and Beau Buseth, Declan, Blaine, Raegan and Ryder O’Rourke, Blake, Nolan, AJ and Carter Citterman, Riley Citterman, Cameron, Emma and Maddie Gruber, Theo Kulzer, and Wyatt and Ethan Busse; siblings, Ferdinand Citterman and Esther Hoffman; in-laws, Dorothy Oldakowski, Joe Lanners, Sr. Edna Lanners, Cletus (Lorraine) Lanners and Walter (Diane) Lanners and many nieces, nephews and friends. Ray was godfather to eight nieces and nephews and prayed each day for them.

He was preceded in death by son, Douglas, his parents; brothers, Ambrose (Bernice) Citterman, Emil (Audrey) Citterman, Clemence (Theresa) Citterman; sisters, Clara (John) Biranowski, Evelyn (Walter) Panka, Bernice (Roy) Chlub and Leona (LeRoy) Hauschild; in-laws, Mary Ann Citterman, Wallace Hoffman, Lawrence (Jane) Lanners, Lorraine (Harry) Hofmeister, Robert Oldakowski, Alfred (Gladys) Lanners, Gloria Lanners, Joanne Lanners and Ruth (Vince) Caron.

Well done my good and faithful servant. Matthew 25:23