Ray Paul Petzoldt

Raymond P. Petzoldt Hastings resident Raymond Paul Petzoldt, 80, of 1233 Academy Ave., died Friday, August 17, 2007, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings after a battle with cancer. Services are 2 p.m. Thursday, August 23, 2007, at the First St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Hastings with the Rev. Adam White officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday WIth family present Wednesday from 6 PM to 8 PM. at Brand-Wilson Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Hastings; and one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church. Memorials may be given to First St. Pauls Lutheran Church, the American Diabetes Foundation or the Adams County Cancer Association. Condolences may be sent to www.brandwilson.com. *** Ray was born February 1, 1927, to Henry and Ella (Mettenbrink) Petzoldt in Worms, Neb., in Merrick County. He married Laverna Smith on February 20, 1955, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Grand Island. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2005. He worked for Roberts Dairy for 30 years; for Maynard Curtis, hauling mail; and after retiring, for Brand-Wilson. He volunteered at the Mary Lanning Hospital for 55 plus and socials. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith and was a member of the First St. Pauls Lutheran Church, Hastings, Neb., Eagles Club #378 in Grand Island; Retired Teamsters in Omaha, Neb.; UCT Bagman; and AARP. His hobbies were fishing and attending events of his grandchildren when able. He is survived by his wife Laverna, of Hastings, Neb.; two sons, Terry and wife Crystal, and Mike and wife Paula, all of Juniata, Neb.; two daughters, Connie Irvin and husband Tom of Papillion, Neb., and Kimberly Sealey and husband Nick of Hastings, Neb.; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandson; one brother, Lestor Petzoldt and wife Myrna of Grand Island, Neb.; and one sister-in-law, Eleanor Petzoldt of Central City, Neb. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Clarence.