Raymond Francis Niehoff

Raymond F. Niehoff, age 86, died peacefully on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at the Randolph Health Services in Randolph. A Mass for Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at Annunciation Catholic Church in Fox Lake with Fr. John Radetski officiating. Burial will follow in the Randolph Cemetery. Following the committal service, a luncheon will be served in the church fellowship hall. Family and friends may call on the family on Friday evening, April 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Kratz-Smedema Funeral Home in Cambria and also at the church on Saturday from 10 am until the time of service. Ray was born in the Town of Trenton, Dodge Co. on July 28, 1931 the son of Frank and Gertrude (Leisses) Niehoff. At the age of six, his family moved to the town of Courtland. He attended grade school at the Penrhos School and graduated from Cambria High School in 1949. Ray farmed with his dad on the family farm until he was drafted in the Army during the Korean War in 1952 and was honorably discharged in 1954. Just as the truce was signed, he was wounded and awarded the purple heart. Ray returned home and continued to help on the farm and worked nights at Rockwell in Randolph. He then worked at Perfection Milkers in Beaver Dam until 1957 in which he began farming on his own. On Sept. 28, 1957, he was united in marriage to Virginia Drzonek at St. Michael’s Church in Beaver Dam. Ray served as Town Clerk of Courtland for many years and was a member of Columbia County Drainage Board until his ill health. He was able to participate in the Badger Honor Flight in May of 2013. His greatest enjoyment was singing with the Friesland Community Chorus. Ray was a member of Annunciation Catholic Church in Fox Lake, Randolph VFW 9510 and Cambria American Legion Post #401. Ray will be sadly missed and mourned by his wife, Virginia of rural Randolph; his children, Gene (Wanda) Niehoff of Minnesota, Susie (Jon) Nelson of Rice Lake, Karen Wiederholt of Hazel Green and Lynn Ann (James)Zinkgraf of Appleton; 12 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; one sister, Sr. Gertrude Niehoff of Milwaukee; nieces, nephews, several other relatives and many friends. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, one son-in-law, Dale Wiederholt; his four sisters, Margaret Niehoff, Helen (Jim) Miller, Dorothy Niehoff and Mary (Don) Bobholz. The family wishes to thank the staff of Randolph Health Services and Hillside Hospice for their kindness and support while he was a resident there. Memorials may be directed to the Randolph VFW, Cambria American Legion or the Friesland Community Chorus. The Kratz-Smedema Funeral Home is serving the family. For online condolences or more information, please visit www.kratzfh.com.