Raymond R. Umland

Raymond Robert Umland, age 77, of Appleton, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at home with family by his side due to a long fight with COPD. Ray was born on 02-15-1939 at Watseka, Illinois, to the late Raymond and Lilly (Gollnow) Umland. Ray's father was a cheese maker in Cissna Park, Illinois. Ray attended his school years in Cissna Park school system. He went to Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, earning a BsEd. Ray went to Northern Illinois University at DeKalb, Illinois for his Masters Degree and his pre-Doctoral studies. He started his educational career at Harvard, Illinois teaching Social Studies and History in 1961 and ended that career in 1974 as school Business Manager at the Special Education District in Woodstock, Illinois. Ray moved to Wisconsin in 1974 to begin his next career which was in the field of sales (insurance, farm equipment) and dairy farming. Ray farmed in the Marion and Tigerton area until 1985 at which time he moved to Appleton and was back in sales. In 1994 he joined with his friend Greg Duerr who had just started Milltown Paper. Ray worked at Milltown until his retirement in 2009. Since that time Ray has been involved in playing a little poker and taking care of his beloved wife Margaret. Ray and Margaret were both blessed by having their daughter Tina living with them from 2008.

Ray married Kathleen Story in 1963 and had two sons and was divorced in 1972. Ray then married Margaret (Cook-Hansen) in 1974. Ray's sons with Kathleen are Robert R Umland, daughters Mckinzie and Jacqueline; Richard R. Umland, wife Karen, children Nick and Grace. The oldest three children were a blessing given to Ray by Margaret from her former marriage: Elizabeth L. Couillard, children Ashley (Great-grandchildren Dylan and Oceana) and Jason, fiancé Lindsey; Susan K Hoffman, husband David, children Becky Miller Paul, husband Steve, children Eleanor and Abraham, Ben Miller, children Ezekiel, Alix Kurtzer and husband Will, and Isaac, Kristina Hansen, fiancé James Moenke.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his parents, two aunts on his father's side, and by six aunts and uncles on his mother's side: Robert, Roy, Clarence, Martha and Alice (Elmer Beery).

In lieu of flowers, the family will be establishing a fund in Ray's name to help those enduring domestic abuse at Harbour House.

There will be a memorial service in honor of Ray on Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 6 p.m. at WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME, 537 N. Superior St., Appleton 54911. There will be a time of visitation from 5 p.m. until the time of service.