Ray Eakins

Ray Irving Eakins, age 91, of Hammond WI, passed away Monday, August 5, 2019 at Hammond Health. Ray was born in Minneapolis, MN on July 2, 1928 to parents Rex and Dolores Eakins. The youngest of four boys, Ray graduated from Spring Valley High School and enlisted in the Navy during WW2, where as part of his service he sailed through the Panama Canal and to Alaska.
Ray was a talented trumpet player and played all throughout high school and even after graduation, naturally he was a became a lifelong fan of big band music. As Train Dispatcher for Chicago & North Western Railroad, Ray traveled throughout Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin working at several depot locations. On October 6, 1949, he married the love of his life, Wilma Ione Grant and together they had 6 children. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus as well as a golfer, a bowler and a classic movie buff. Ray enjoyed watching baseball and arguing football. He loved his family more than anything else and will be remembered by his children Tim (Rose) Eakins of Webster, WI, Michael (Linda) Eakins of CA, Judy Kennedy (Brian) of MN and Linda (Kevin) Offner of Woodville, WI; grandchildren Tony, Cory, Lisa, Mariah, Brian, Benjamin, Julie, Angela, Danielle, Stephanie, Madeline, Abigail and Zachary; several great-grandchildren as well as many other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his wife Wilma; daughter Diana Schoenoff, infant son Gordon, and brothers Lyle, Vernon, and Marvin.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Ray will be held at 12:00 pm on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at Saint Mary’s Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hammond, WI. A time to visit will be held one hour prior to the service at church.