Raymond C. Weidner

Weidner, Raymond C. age 87, of Plymouth, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 15, 2016 surrounded by his loving family. Preceded in death by his first wife, Marilyn, his parents, Conrad and Lena Weidner, and his brother Lester Weidner. Survived by his wife Dianne, and his four children, Mick (Rachel), Sharry, Lyn and Wendy (Howard); also by Dianne's children Kathy (Danny), Kurt, and Peter. Also by eleven grandchildren Justin, Jenna, Nate, Emily, Kristen, Lily, Conrad, Julia, Zoe, Dylan, and Sadie Lou; and his loving brother, Harley. They say great things come from humble beginnings. Truer words were never spoken when it came to Ray Weidner. He was a great man. Born in Fairfax, South Dakota, Ray started life on the small family farm. By the age of five, he was already driving a tractor. It wasn't long before he was milking cows and soon advanced to thrashing oats and husking corn. These years were fundamental in developing a life-long work ethic that stayed with Ray until the very end. It wasn't all work, however. After his father bought him a second-hand tenor saxophone, Ray taught himself to play and was soon touring with a band; playing Glenn Miller hits at local 'gigs' and school dances. This love of music stayed with him his whole life. In this same era, Ray excelled in high school, competing in sports particularly track and graduated as valedictorian. It was during these years that Ray met his first wife, Marilyn. They married in 1949 and got busy; Ray combining teaching with studying pre-med and Marilyn with raising their young family. For the next 30 years, Ray continued to teach, especially chemistry, to young people in South Dakota and Iowa. He was a great mentor with a keen interest in helping kids be the best they could be. Out of hours, Ray coached the high school basketball and track teams, conducted the band, taught driving lessons, and sold encyclopedias. In 1961, the family moved to Minnesota where Ray taught science at Eisenhower High School. It was here that Ray honed his talent as an innovator; developing and promoting Modular Scheduling and helping develop talent and best practice through Teachers' Self-Appraisal. On top of it, Ray found time to complete both his masters degree and PhD in Educational Psychology. But it was his move to SRI-Gallup that enabled Ray to shine as a true visionary. Using his background in psychology to analyze trends and spot talent, Ray guided the company into sports psychology. He worked closely with and was a trusted advisor to the Vikings, North Stars, and Cleveland Cavaliers. These were fulfilling years for Ray; he travelled, gave talks, and brought in significant business. He retired as Executive Vice President from Gallup in 1996. Ray continued to teach classes to educators and spent time travelling in the UK, Europe, and Israel. He enriched his spiritual life through Cursillo and found real meaning and friendships during weekend retreats. This community and other dear friends supported him after Marilyn's death in 2003. In 2005, Ray married his second wife, Dianne, settling in Plymouth. The two shared a mutual love of sports and warm weather, and were equally happy taking in a Twins game or travelling to Maui, where they were regulars at 'Mama's Fish House.' Together they were committed to giving back to society, volunteering and being active in the local community. They enjoyed walking, spending time with friends, and exploring new restaurants. Through it all, the cornerstone of Ray's life was family. He was a true patriarch and built a strong family through unconditional love and support for his children and grandchildren. He was a true source of strength and seemed to know intuitively just what to say to make everything ok. Each child and grandchild knows that extraordinary feeling when he took you aside, put those strong hands on your shoulders, and whispered words of encouragement. Ray loved people. Wherever he went, he was quick to strike up a conversation and get to know someone new. He loved to tell stories and share a good joke and he loved to make people laugh. He lived life to the fullest and found joy being surrounded by family; grilling his famous burgers, music blaring, telling stories, eyes shut-tight in laughter. Ray always said, 'love is a verb you show it in what you do.' Throughout his long and rich life, Ray showed us love on a daily basis. He made us feel important, unique, and special. We will miss him terribly. He was our rock. But from this strong foundation springs a family that will live by his words; showing love in all we do. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Cathedral of the Pines Camp via Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church or to a charity of your choice. Service Wednesday 1 pm at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, 5025 Knox Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55419. Visitation 1 hour prior to service at church. Private interment Lakewood Cemetery. Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

Tributes

Raymond C. Weidner

April 15, 2016

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203