Raymond Wickstrom

Raymond Wickstrom, devoted and loving father of Randy Scott Wickstrom and Steven Alan Wickstrom, beloved brother of Ann Marie Krause sadly passed away near his home in Corrales, New Mexico on Thursday, January 18, 2018 from an unexpected and sudden illness.

Ray was born May 21, 1935 and spent his formative years in Waukegan, Illinois. He graduated from Waukegan High School in 1953. As a young man, he was a car enthusiast, racing in road rallies and enjoyed hunting, fishing and was an avid gardener.

His experiences led him to reside in Zion, Illinois, where he met and married Rachel E. Foerster on October 4, 1956. Together, they raised two wonderful sons, Randy and Steve and they were ever present in nurturing and supporting their activities and events. After twenty-nine years of marriage, they divorced in September 1985.

Ray started his career at North Shore Printers in Waukegan. In his early days he was a linotype operator. As he worked his way up through various companies within the surrounding area, he eventually settled in as the production coordinator / manager at Lake County Press in Waukegan, where he developed long lasting friendships and professional relationships with many that he worked and interacted with.

After retiring from a long and illustrious career within the printing industry, he and his partner Sharon E. Wilborn moved from the frigid Midwest to settle in Corrales, New Mexico in the spring of 1998, where they enjoyed the desert southwest culture and the pursuit of his passion of golf and gardening on a full-time basis. Shortly thereafter, he and Sharon were happily wed on November 29, 2002. In his later years, Ray became an enthusiastic sports fan and even participated in an LPGA golfing tournament.

Ray leaves behind to cherish his memory, his sons Randy Scott Wickstrom and Steven Alan Wickstrom; his sister Ann Marie Krause and her daughters and his nieces Kirsten (Pete) Dale and Cathy (Patrick) O’Neal, his sister’s in-law, Diane (Steve) Kelly, Linda (Ray) Balcauski, his brother-in-law, Richard (Leslie) Wilborn. Along with several of their daughters, sons and their spouses, and his loving cat Solomon. He will be sadly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Astrid C. Wickstrom, his brother-in-law Lou Krause, his wife Sharon E. Wilborn and his devoted and loving cats; Lilly (admittedly his favorite), Ma’ija and Shadow.

Ray’s wishes are to have his cremated ashes spread atop the Sandia Mountains, to be joined along with those of his dear departed wife, Sharon. And as he was fond of saying, to “keep on keeping on”.

A service of remembrance and memorial honoring and celebrating his life will be held with friends and family at a place and date yet to be determined. Notification and details will be made available at a later time period.

Your invited to leave condolences online and sign the guestbook at Daniels Family Funeral Services