Raymond Peschel

Raymond Peschel, 86, of Fargo, ND died on Sunday, December 23, 2007 at Villa Maria, Fargo, ND. Ray was born on February 6, 1921 to Peter and Kathryn (Ehlen) Peschel in Breckenridge, MN. He attended St. John?s Grade School and graduated from Wahpeton High School in 1937. He attended the ND State School of Science for a time before enlisting in the U. S. Navy in 1943. He was part of the invasion in Okinawa and was discharged in 1946. He graduated with a B.S. degree from the University of North Dakota Business School of Commerce in 1947. His first employment involved traveling extensively in the United States and Canada with a manufacturer and distributor of farm equipment. He left that firm to develop a small manufacturing enterprise of his own in Hawley, MN called ?Rapat Manufacturing? that developed conveyors for agriculture and industry. Ray sold the company to the chief engineer in 1975 and the company has continued to grow, providing solutions to material handling problems worldwide. Ray went on to become a Manufacturer?s Representative for Beaucraft Jewelry. These were the happiest years of his life because in Ray?s own words, ?I was selling beauty.? He retired in the mid 1990?s and pursued his avocation as a ?News Junkie?. He was an avid reader of current events both locally and nationally in many fields of interest including religion, the stock market, and the history of the railroads?especially Amtrak. He was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus. Ray moved to Villa Maria in October of 2007. He is survived by his sisters: Virginia Larson, Spokane, WA, Mary Lorraine (John) Vick, Phoenix, AZ; nieces and nephews: William (Ellen) Larson, Los Angeles, CA, Catherine (Herb) Nelson, Spokane, WA, Robert (Karen) Larson, Stephens City, VA, James (Kim) Larson, Snohomish, WA, Anne (Dan) Kiley, Chandler, AZ, Laura (Tim) Zilmer, Mesa, AZ, and Patricia Harris, Phoenix, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. John?s Catholic School, 122 2nd Street North, Wahpeton, ND 58075. Visitation: 4-7 PM Sunday, December 30, 2007 at Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo, ND Prayer Service: 7 PM Sunday, December 30, 2007 at Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo, ND Funeral Service: 10:30 AM Monday, December 31, 2007 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Fargo, ND Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Wahpeton, ND