Raymond A. Rovang

Friday, October 21, 2016 2:52 pm

Raymond A. Rovang, 83 of Decorah, died Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016, at Saint Marys’ Hospital, Mayo Clinic Campus, in Rochester, Minn. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, with Rev. Chad Huebner officiating. Burial was in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah, with full military honors by Decorah’s veterans and military organizations, and U.S. Marine Corps personnel. Visitation was from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and Monday beginning at 1 p.m., one hour before the service, at First Lutheran Church. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah served the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com. Organist was Yvonne Kuhlman. Congregational hymns were “Jesus Love Me,” “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” and “Morning Has Broken.” Casket bearers were Victor Fye, Curtis Gjere, Vern Iverson, Jim Juve, Ron Lysne and Robert Sorenson.

Raymond Arlin Rovang was born in Decorah Dec. 31, 1932, to Melvin and Esther (Moe) Rovang. He grew up in Decorah and attended public school until his graduation from Decorah High School with the Class of 1951, where he participated in football, basketball and baseball. Ray loved spending his summers during high school working on his uncle Merlin Moe’s farm in Glenwood Township. At age 18 Ray enlisted in the Marine Corps and was deployed to Korea. At age 19 he was seriously wounded by enemy fire and shrapnel wounds. After many months of rehabilitation, Ray entered Luther College and graduated in 1958. He did graduate work at U.N.I., Mankato State University and the University of St. Thomas. Ray taught high school social studies and language arts for 30 years in Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. Ray retired early to return to Decorah to assist his aging parents. During Ray’s retirement, he took up gardening in a big way with over an acre of garden, to everyone’s envy. He enjoyed golf, music, reading, writing and fishing. As Pastor Chad would say, Ray was a most loyal member of First Lutheran Church. He also was very generous to many, many charities. Mostly he was dedicated to his family of parents, siblings, uncles, aunts and cousins, attending yearly family reunions and later many luncheons at the Cliff House.

Ray is survived by one brother, Donald (Estrella, deceased) Rovang of Canoga Park, Calif.; two sisters, Nancy (Lance) Lee of Dolores, Colo. and Betty (Bob, deceased) Chapman of Decorah; and by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Melvin, in 1990; his mother, Esther, in 1993; and two sisters, Ethel Rovang in 1944 and Linda Rovang in 1996.

The family suggests memorials be given to Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101 or ELCA World Hunger Appeal (Make checks payable to ELCA World Hunger), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009.