Raymond Gleason

Raymond R. Gleason, age 86 of Waseca, died on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at Lake Shore Inn, Waseca.   Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 27th at 1:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca with Fr. Martin Schaefer officiating.  Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery.   Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at McRaith Funeral Home in Waseca, and will continue on Monday afternoon for one hour prior to services at church.  There will be a 5:00 p.m. parish prayer service Sunday afternoon at the funeral home.   Raymond Richard was born on July 4, 1922 in St. Mary Township, Waseca County to John and Anna (Fox) Gleason.  Ray graduated in 1940 from Sacred Heart High School in Waseca, and went on to attend Mankato Commercial College. He was united in marriage to Marjorie Lorraine Lux on November 19, 1942 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca.  Ray and Marge resided on their dairy farm in St. Mary Township until 1991 when they moved into Waseca.  Ray continued to farm until the fall of 2006.  He was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca, and a 3rd degree member of the Knights of Columbus-Sacred Heart Council #2768.  Ray enjoyed following Minnesota sports teams, and loved time spent with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.   He is survived by his four children, Susan (Neil) Hovelsrud of Waseca, Donald (Peggy) Gleason of Owatonna, Joseph Gleason of Waseca, Jerry (Joette) Gleason of Waseca, and his son-in-law Donald Manke of Janesville; by 15 grandchildren, Tammy (Randy) Cummins, Kathy (Jason) Witt, Donald (Stacey) Manke, Greg Manke, Cassie Hovelsrud, Toby (Angie) Hovelsrud, Stacey Larson, Brian Gleason, Stephanie Gleason, Jessica (Andrew) Gregory, Jeffrey Gleason, Jennifer Gleason, Brandon Gleason, Jacob Gleason and Kimberly Gleason; by 15 great grandchildren, Kortney and Karter Cummins, Jarrod, Austin and Katey Witt, Morgan, Ashley, Joshua and Cora Manke, Carter Hovelsrud, Colton, Carley and Calvin Larson, Jada Gleason and Haylie Bartelt; by his sister-in-law Rosella Gleason, and several nieces and nephews, and other relatives.   He was preceded in death by his wife Marjorie of 66 years, on April 10, 2009 and his daughter Jeanne Ann Manke on August 10, 2008; by his parents; by his brothers John (Helen) Gleason, Leo (Winnifred) Gleason, William (Dorothy) Gleason, and James Gleason; by his sisters Marie (Joe) Wheelock, Ellen Gleason, and Margaret (George) Minske.