Raymond David Voss

Voss, Raymond David (KGØDK), 75, of Edina, Minnesota, died February 20, 2016 of kidney and heart disease. Ray was born in Buffalo, New York, to William Theodore Voss, Jr., and Dorathea Sarah (Grotke) Voss. He was an active member of Edina Community Lutheran Church. Involvement in his childhood church, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran, in Williamsville, NY, and especially the guidance of Pastor Menge, built a foundation for his life-long faith. Early in his life Ray developed a love of sacred organ and choral music which led to active participation in church music throughout his adult life. In college at the University of Iowa, he was a frequent dinner guest at Christus House, a Lutheran campus center, where he met his future wife, Lois Ann Kuchenbaker. Ray and Lois married in 1964 in Olin, Iowa. Ray was active in church leadership and service throughout his life. In recent decades he became an advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in the Lutheran Church, including membership in ReconcilingWorks-Twin Cities and the Joint Synod Committee for Ministry to, for, and with GLBT Persons, Their Families, and Friends (also known as “The Committee with the Long Name”). His childhood fascination with broadcasting led him into a career in that field. A graduate of Williamsville High School (1959), Ray attended Cornell University School of Engineering during 1959-1961 and University of Iowa during 1962-1964, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Drama, with a concentration in Radio-TV-Film Production. While in college, he worked at the campus radio stations WVBR-FM at Cornell University and WSUI/KSUI at the University of Iowa. He also worked at public television station WNED-Buffalo and the Northeast Radio Network of New York State. After college, he was a television news reporter for KCRG-Cedar Rapids, WHO-Des Moines, and KSTP-Minneapolis/St. Paul. In 1970, he joined the Minneapolis corporate public relations office of Northwestern Bell Telephone. Transferring to company headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska in 1978, he served as District Staff Manager in charge of audiovisual production and facilities. Returning to Minnesota, he worked in audio-visual consulting and design at Jamieson and Associates, Inc., from 1981 until 1992. During 1984-1987, he also served as Vice President and partner in GFI Broadcasting, Inc., as well as General Manager of radio station KSMM-Shakopee. He continued working in audio-visual design and sales at AVI Systems (Audiovisual Inc.) from 1992 until 1998. He returned to broadcast media at KMSP-Minneapolis/St. Paul as a remote news television technician during 1999-2002. Throughout his career, he was a strong advocate for freedom of the press, racial equality, feminism, public transit, accessible/universal design, and environmental awareness. Ray (KGØDK) was an amateur radio enthusiast, active in many local and national amateur radio organizations. He was an avid photographer; his landscapes vividly capture the dynamic movements of light, air, and water in streams, waterfalls, and lakeshores. He was a member of Lions Clubs in Circle Pines, Minnesota; Omaha, Nebraska; and Edina, Minnesota. His corneas have been donated to the Lions Eye Bank. In retirement, he and his wife Lois enjoyed travelling by RV throughout North America. Ray Voss’s friendliness and gentleness will be warmly remembered by his family and community. He is survived by his wife Lois Ann (Kuchenbaker) Voss; daughter Barbara Lois Voss and daughter-in-law Deborah Ann Cohler; daughter Thuja Jameson, son-in-law Roy Alan Jameson, and grandchildren Brian David Jameson and Megan Amelia Jameson; brothers William Charles Voss and Roger Alan Voss; brother-in-law James Frederick Kuchenbaker; and nieces and nephews William Eric Voss, John Bradley Voss, Douglas Andrew Voss, Daniel Ross Kuchenbaker, Susan Kay Kuchenbaker, and Matthew James Kuchenbaker. Visitation will be held Friday (March 4), from 4-7pm at Edina Community Lutheran Church, 4113 West 54th Street, Edina. The memorial service will be held Saturday (March 5) at 11am at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 4801 France Avenue S., Minneapolis, with visitation during 10am-11am, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to the Building Fund (Sound System) at Edina Community Lutheran Church, where he was a member.

Tributes

Raymond David Voss

February 20, 2016

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