Obituary of Alfred Raykowski

Ray was born in Akron, New York on October 1, 1918, and peacefully passed to eternity March 16, 2010, at his home in Tacoma, with his family in attendance. He was born the third of nine children to polish immigrants, Peter and Loretta (Janeuski) Raykowski. He grew up poor, and worked hard from an early age to help the family make ends meet. He tells stories of mother baking bread three times a week to keep the family fed, homemade sauerkraut all winter, and working at the neighbor's farm tending the animals before and after school. His first paycheck from his first "real" job at Nabisco, went to purchase a wash machine for his mother. He joined the Army when World War II started, but was not sent overseas with his brigade, due to frostbitten feet he endured on the way to basic training. He was stationed at Fort Lewis Washington for his entire career. He met his lovely bride Gladys at Point Defiance in 1942. He built their home in Tacoma in 1948, where they lived the remainder of their lives. They had one son, Jim, who gave them four well- loved grandsons: Jim, Joe, Mike and Tom. Ray could build and fix anything, and his skills have been lovingly instilled in his son and grandsons. He was a deadeye bird hunter, and was known to wear out two shifts of dogs on a day of hunting. He loved to tell his hunting stories. Ray loved his garden, especially the tomatoes. He would frequently take large bags of tomatoes to the doctor's office, the dentist's office, or the barber shop. He was vigorous and healthy until 2 weeks before his death, winning cribbage games, and building rabbit hutches. He told Jim the night before his death how to build a table for the walker to make his life more comfortable. The family wishes to thank Dr Romney, Renee, and Colleen for 40 years of excellent and loving medical care. The ICU nurses at Allenmore, Dr Kahlstrom, and the hospice team provided great support and care for the last couple weeks of his life His kindness touched many people, and he will truly be missed. In the Garden I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses And the voice I hear falling on my ear The son of God discloses And He walks with me And He talks with me And He tells me I am His own And the joy we share as we tarry there None other has ever known He speaks and the sound of His voice Is so sweet that the birds hush their singing And the melody that He gave to me Within my heart is ringing And He walks with me And He talks with me And He tells me I am His own And the joy we share as we tarry there None other has ever known And the joy we share as we tarry there None other has ever known