Raymond A. Rovang

Raymond A. Rovang, age 83 of Decorah, IA, died Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at Saint Marys’ Hospital, Mayo Clinic Campus, in Rochester, MN. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, October 24, 2016 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah with Rev. Chad Huebner officiating. Burial will be in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah, with Full Military Honors by Decorah’s Veterans and Military Organizations, and U.S. Marine Corps personnel. Visitation will be from 3:00-6:00 P.M. Sunday, October 23 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and on Monday beginning at 1:00 p.m., one hour before the service, at First Lutheran Church. Raymond Arlin Rovang was born in Decorah, Iowa on December 31, 1932, to Melvin and Esther (Moe) Rovang. He grew up in Decorah and attended public school until his graduation from Decorah High School with the Class of 1951, where he participated in football, basketball and baseball. Ray loved spending his summers during high school working on his uncle Merlin Moe’s farm in Glenwood Township. At age 18 Ray enlisted in the Marine Corps and was deployed to Korea. At age 19 he was seriously wounded by enemy fire and shrapnel wounds. After many months of rehabilitation, Ray entered Luther College and graduated in 1958. He did graduate work at U.N.I., Mankato State University and the University of St. Thomas. Ray taught high school social studies and language arts for 30 years in Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. Ray retired early to return to Decorah to assist his aging parents. During Ray’s retirement, he took up gardening in a big way with over an acre of garden, to everyone’s envy. He enjoyed golf, music, reading, writing and fishing. As Pastor Chad would say, Ray was a most loyal member of First Lutheran Church. He was also very generous to many, many charities. Mostly he was dedicated to his family of parents, siblings, uncles, aunts and cousins, attending yearly family reunions and later many luncheons at the Cliff House. He was preceded in death by his father Melvin in 1990; his mother Esther in 1993; and two sisters, Ethel Rovang in 1944 and Linda Rovang in 1996. Ray is survived by one brother, Donald (Estrella, deceased) Rovang of Canoga Park, CA; two sisters, Nancy (Lance) Lee of Dolores, CO and Betty (Bob, deceased) Chapman of Decorah; and by several nieces, nephews and cousins. The family suggests memorials be given to Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101 or ELCA World Hunger Appeal (Make checks payable to ELCA World Hunger), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009.