Raymond SerweDeath, Obituary – Raymond J. Serwe, 88 years old, passed away on December 29, 2022 at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He went to his heavenly home that day. It was at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Eden that he tied the knot with Mary Beth Brown on November 12th, 1966. He was the son of the late Simon Serwe and Mary Serwe and was born on November 24, 1934 in Campbellsport. His parents both passed away (nee Moser). He received his high school diploma from Campbellsport in the year 1953. Ray was a proud veteran of the United States Army, having served in the 82nd Airborne Division as a Jumpmaster throughout his time in the military.
Ray had his barbering education in Chicago, and he worked his first barbering job in Ripon with Svend Hollerup, who was both his mentor and a close friend. Later on, he became known to many people in Fond du Lac as “Razor Ray” while he was the owner and operator of The Razor’s Edge for more than 40 years. Ray’s first fishing experience was at Mill Pond when he was a little lad, and he has since developed a passion for the sport. Even when he traveled to other countries, he was always able to find someone who could take him to the best fishing spots in the area. Particularly memorable for him were the fishing excursions he had with his nephew to Canada and the times he spent “out fishing” with his kids on Long Lake near Plainfield, Wisconsin.
Ray was a good-natured and kind man who nevertheless had a strong drive for competition. He bowled in a number of leagues, and liked horseshoes, golfing, gardening, and shooting pheasants and deer. During the holidays, Ray’s family, his friends, and his relatives would often gather to play card games with him. His favorites were Sheepshead and Canasta. He was a fantastic grandparent who enjoyed spending time with his grandkids by taking them to the park, engaging in various games with them, and keeping up with their numerous activities throughout the years. Together, Ray and Mary Beth embarked on an adventure throughout the world, seeing places such as Ireland, many nations in Scandinavia, China, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji.
Ray was an adventurous person; when he was in his sixties, he bungee jumped in New Zealand, and when he was 70, he skydived with his daughter and his nephew. He had a positive outlook on life and told many stories about the exciting things that had happened to him over the years, such as his time spent working as an altar boy, on his uncle’s farm, and in a soda pop factory, as well as the many members of his family and friends who had played an important role in his life. Those who are left behind to honor his memory are his wife of 56 years, Mary Beth; their children, Anne Serwe of Anoka, MN, Lynne (David) Trinkner of Greendale, WI, and Suzanne Serwe of Greendale, WI; grandchildren, Grace and Mason Trinkner; and his sister-in-law, Barbara (Dick) Behnke.
His memory will live on in the hearts of those he left behind. In addition, he is survived by a sizable number of nieces, nephews, and other relatives as well as devoted friends. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings Bernice Timler, Shirley Pennington, Mildred Schoessow, Gertrude Polzin, Imelda Kissinger, Jane Serwe, and James Serwe. His in-laws Robert and Lorraine Brown also passed away before him, as did his brother and sister-in-law. At the Twohig Funeral Home, which is located at 305 Fond du Lac Avenue in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 54935, the first viewing for Ray will be placed on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.