Raymond V. Eickstaedt

Funeral services will be held at the Runge Mortuary on July 20, with a visitation beginning at 10:30 and a service starting at noon. He will be laid to rest at the Rock Island Arsenal National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rungemortuary.com.

Ray was born October 4, 1925, in Davenport, IA, to Arthur and Grace Eickstaedt. He was united in marriage to Arlene Rickertsen May 28, 1950, in Charlotte, IA. He proudly served our nation in the United States Army during World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. After returning home, he worked at the Rock Island Arsenal and retired in 1980. He had a second career as an aid at Mercy Hospital where he made many lifelong friends.

Ray and Arlene loved camping and traveling, spending winters in Arizona. He loved a good game of cards or dominoes, chatting with strangers, sipping on an ice cold Bud Light or Crown, and making all his grandchildren laugh.

Those left to cherish Ray’s memory are his wife, Arlene; son, Steve (Deb) Eickstaedt of Long Grove; grandchildren: Nichol (John) Fogle, Amber DeFrates, Melissa (Chad) Huston, Doug (Allison) DeFrates, and Lindsay (Peter) Erickson; 12 great grandchildren and one great great grandson.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, daughter, Nan and a great granddaughter, Jordan. He joined his daughter, Nan, in Heaven on her birthday.