Raymond P. Woitalla, age 72 of St. Anna, died peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at his home near St. Anna, Minnesota.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, December 10 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Anna with Rev. Greg Mastey officiating. Interment followed in the parish cemetery.
Raymond Peter Woitalla was born February 15, 1946 in St. Anna, Minnesota to Alois and Mary (Kotzer) Woitalla. He graduated from Albany High School and after school joined the U.S. Navy for four years. Raymond married Barbara “Barb” Studer on May 5, 1973. Together, the couple raised their family near St. Anna. He worked for Granite City Heating for most of his life along with continuing to raise cattle on the farm.
Raymond was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Anna from the day he was baptized into the church. He also served as an usher for 25 years. He was also a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and the Legion Honor Guard. Raymond enjoyed farming, gardening, antique collecting, and automotive restoration. He loved being “Papa” and spending time with his grandkids.
Raymond is survived by his wife of 45 years, Barb Woitalla of St. Anna; children, Mark (Mindy Stolley) Woitalla of St. Cloud, Jacqueline (Robert) Deters of Albany, Timothy Woitalla of Holdingford, Marilyn (Joseph) Laughlin of Craver, Benjamin (Jennifer Fischer) Woitalla of Avon, and Sarah (Dustin) Schroeder of St. Joseph; mother, Mary Woitalla of Albany; 13 grandchildren; and brothers and sisters, John, Helen Rakotz, Don “Butch”, MaryAnn Heitzman, David, Joe, Diane Lacey, Mark, Richard, and Duane.
Raymond was preceded in death by his father, Alois Woitalla in 1972.