On Nov. 28, 2023, Raymond L. “Ray” Demel passed away peacefully at Medicalodges in Goddard, Kan., after a long illness. The son of Frank and Mary (Klug) Demel, Ray was born Aug. 3, 1948, in Claflin, Kan. In 1972, he married Lois Schnewise; they later divorced. He then married Patricia “Pat” (Stoppel) Keil on Feb. 3, 1979, in Great Bend, Kan. To their union, they had a daughter, Melissa R. Demel.

Raymond was a 29-year veteran of the Army and Army Reserves, serving in both Vietnam and Desert Storm. He was honorably retired with the rank of Sergent First Class. Ray was a great patriot. He enjoyed leading the Color Guard in the Hoisington Labor Day Parade and several cemeteries on Memorial Day.

Ray worked several jobs in his lifetime, including for farmers, The Odin Store, Thies Packing Company, beef selector for TopCo and Dillons, the Job Service Center, United Parcel, Exxon, and Bachman Production Specialties. He was a member of the Prince of Peace Parish and a lifetime member of the V.F.W.

Survivors include his wife, Pat, of the home; daughter, Melissa Demel; seven siblings, Delores (Jim) Rosenberg of Simsbury, Conn., Rosemary Schremmer of Hoisington, Robert (Rosemary) Demel of Hoisington, Tom (Darlene) Demel, of Hoisington, Marvin (Phyllis) Demel of Kanopolis, Allen (Margaret) Demel of Elk City, Okla., and Mark (Barbara) Demel of Hoisington; brother-in-law, LeRoy Stoppel; many nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; and great-great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Frank Demel; brothers-in-law, Kenny Schremmer and Ernest Stoppel; and nephew, Lantz Walters.

Ray has donated his body to the University of Kansas School of Medicine. A memorial service will be planned at a later date. Memorials have been designated to the Diabetes Foundation, Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, or the Melissa Demel Medical Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS  67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Dec. 2, 2023