Raymond Nikolai
Raymond J. Nikolai, 87, Chili, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, at Marshfield Medical Center.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2023, at Rembs Funeral Home, Marshfield, where the visitation was from 9 a.m. until the service time. Deacon Ray Draeger officiated. Burial was in McMillan Memorial Gardens Cemetery, town of McMillan, where military rites were conducted.
Raymond was born on Dec. 13, 1936, in the town of Day, Marathon County, to Edmund and Caroline (Wenzel) Nikolai. He attended St. Andrew’s Parochial School and was a 1954 graduate of Marshfield Senior High School. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving from 1955 until his honorable discharge in 1958, including spending two and a half years in France. He started farming in the town of Day in 1959 and moved to farm in the town of Fremont, Clark County, in 1973.
He married Clara Ann Menke on June 8, 1973, at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Rozellville.
Ray served on many committees, including the Town of Day Town Board, was assessor for the town of Day, Clark County Fair Board, Grand Meadow Cheese Factory Board, Clark County Dairy Promotion Committee, Clark County Livestock Committee, Clark County Beef Committee and was Clark County Beef chairman.
He was an avid sports fan, and loved watching baseball, college basketball and football. He farmed all his life and loved working with kids at the Clark County Fair. After selling the farm in 2000, Ray was a substitute bus driver for the Granton School District for 11 years.
He is survived by his wife, Clara; their daughter, Michelle (John) Keller and grandson, Nate Keller. He is further survived by siblings: Rose Marie Wittenkeller, Eugene (Becky) Nikolai, Victor Nikolai, Leonard (Diane) Nikolai, Germaine Nikolai and Mary Lou (Don) Hafenbredl; sisters-in-law: Jeanette Nikolai and Teri Nikolai; and brotherin- law, Louie Menke; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents; sisters: Carrie (Jim) Hardinger and Eleanor Nikolai; brothers, Frankie and Ted Nikolai; parents-in-law, Clarence and Evadene Menke; brother-in-law, Jim Wittenkeller; sisters-in-law, Sharon Menke and Ruth Nikolai; nephews, Bob Bruns and Uriel Nikolai; and niece, Shelly Nikolai.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the American Heart Association. Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com.
