Rev. Raymond Willemssen

Rev. Raymond H. Willemssen, 94, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and pastor passed away peacefully to his Heavenly home on November 10th, 2015 at the Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center, IA. Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 16, 2015 at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, IA with Chaplain Roger McCarty officiating. Burial will take place prior to the service. Family and friends will gather together at 9:30 a.m. Monday morning at Jurrens Funeral Home of Little Rock before processing to Pleasant View Cemetery for interment. In lieu of flowers, family wishes donations be directed to Samaritan's Purse. Ray was born on May 24th, 1921 in Rock Rapids, IA, to Sophia (Wibben) and Jacob Willemssen. He graduated from George High School in George, IA in 1939. He married the love of his life, Grace Kanengieter, in Muskogee, OK, on August 19th, 1944, while enlisted in the US Army. He served in WWII in France and Germany from November 1944 to April 1945 in the 222nd Infantry Regiment of the 42nd Rainbow Division of the US Army. He was awarded numerous medals that included the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart and was wounded in Germany in April 1945. He spent the next 6 months in various hospitals overseas and in the US. He is very proud to have served and loved his fellow "band of brothers" keeping in contact with many of them throughout the rest of his life. While serving over in Germany, before being wounded, he wrote Grace a letter stating that he was being called to be a minister of the Gospel. He fulfilled this calling upon graduating from Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, IA, with a Masters of Divinity. He spent the rest of his adult life preaching and sharing the Gospel ,ministering to those in need, and caring for various Presbyterian congregations including those in Rushmore, MN; Avon, SD; Lake Park, IA; the Presbyterian Camp on Lake Okoboji; Early, IA; and Turner County Presbyterian Church near Davis SD. He was very involved in the Presbyteries in which he served and also served as Chaplain of the 42nd Rainbow Division from 1987 to 1988. Ray was always a pastor, even many years into retirement, serving God whenever and wherever he was called with Grace always there supporting and serving God in her own loving way. Ray and Grace enjoyed spending time with family, attending many grandchildren and great-grandchildren events. They loved to travel and after retirement spent many wonderful winters in Arizona and visiting Phyllis and Bob in California. We have many wonderful memories of family vacations and dad's faithful service. Though he is no longer with us here on this Earth, we know we will be reunited again in Heaven. When recently asked what was the most important thing he had learned from his life, he replied "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Ray is survived by his wife of 71 years, Grace (Kanengieter) Willemssen, Sioux Center IA, five daughters, Lora (Barry) Brandt, Orange City, IA; Phyllis (Bob) Koob, Wildomar, CA; Marla (David) Nees, Early, IA; Mary (Tim) Braithwaite, Sioux Falls, SD; and Rhonda (Dan) Doyscher, Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren, Cory(Susan) Brandt; Jennifer (Kelvin) Kaemingk; Jill (Lyle) Schut; Lindi (Ryan) Dahm; Emily (Cody) Wright; Andrew Nees and Amanda (fiancé); Laurie Beth Nees; and Alison Braithwaite; and great-grandchildren, Katie, Brianna, and Megan Brandt; Karissa, Kyle, and Kollin Kaemingk; Carly, Cole, and Cora Schut; Nicholas, Matthew, and Luke Dahm; Morgan, Carter, and Haley Wright; and Raelyn and Rian Stovall. Surviving sibling is Viola Aberson of Windom, MN, and numerous beloved brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Sophia Willemssen; sisters Luella (Willard) Lehman, Myrtle Willemssen, Irene Willemssen, Evelyn Willemssen, Iva (Wayne) Huisman; brother Walter Willemssen; sister-in-law Valoris Willemssen; son-in-law John Bassett; niece Wanda Kooima; and nephew Scott Willemssen.