Raymond McGee

Raymond Lee McGee, 74, of Gilman, Iowa, passed away Monday, February 20, 2023 at UnityPoint Health – Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines.

Services for Raymond will take place at 2PM on Saturday, April 15th 2023 at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home with visitation beginning at 1PM. Interment at Ripley Cemetery will follow the service.

Born January 22, 1949 at his Grandma Mary’s home in Bussey, Iowa, he was the son of Raymond and Josephine (Spaur) McGee. After graduating from high school in 1967, he enlisted in the United States Navy. Raymond served honorably for four years during the Vietnam War aboard Prairie, a machine shop ship stationed in the Philippines. Upon his return, he worked at Fisher Controls before obtaining his Tool and Die certification at Marshalltown Community College. Raymond worked for several manufacturing companies over the years, including Payko Corporation and Williamsburg Manufacturing, where he retired.

While working at Payko, he met the love of his life, Carol Laschewski, in Golden Valley, Minnesota. She relocated to Iowa to be closer to Raymond and they made their home in the country near Green Castle Lake. Raymond loved fishing and felt the most at home at his lot on Loon Lake in Minnesota. He also enjoyed his BMW motorcycle, raising birds including his pet Cockatiels and his membership in the Des Moines bird club, as well as putting puzzles together and later framing them.

Left to cherish his memory include his partner of 47 years, Carol; his siblings: Richard (Beth) McGee of Grinnell, Linda (Rich) Gummert of Garwin and Mary (Randy) Smith of Albion; several nieces, nephews, and cousins, including Josie Spaur, who was like a daughter to him, his great-nieces and great-nephews and his beloved dogs: Red McGee and Snapper.

In eternal life he is reunited with his parents, his grandma Mary, several aunts and uncles and his cousin Alvie “AJ” Jr.