Obituary of Raymond Alfred Garinger

Raymond Alfred Garinger was born on November 30, 1956 in Melfort, SK to Alfred and Helen Garinger.  He was the 5^th child of 7.  Ray was raised on the family farm 3 miles East of Brooksby, SK.  He went to Brooksby school from kindergarten to grade 3, then to Star City School from grade 4 to grade 8, at which time he decided to join the work force as a drywaller, following in his brothers’ footsteps.

 

Ray met the love of his life and best friend Sandra Person in the summer of 1973 at Melfort, SK.  They had their first child – Renee April on April 2, 1975.  She was truly “Daddy’s Girl”.  Ray and Sandra married on April 9, 1977, and then they had their second child, Michael Ryan on May 5, 1978.  “He was the apple of his Daddy’s Eye”.

 

Ray’s drywalling took the family to Melfort, SK, until December 1989 and then to Edmonton, AB until August of 1991, at which time they chose Choiceland to call home to be close with family. Ray started work for the Town of Choiceland as the Town Maintenance Man in the spring of 1992 until he retired in May of 2014.  Ray also took pride being a volunteer fireman for 21 years for the Choiceland Fire Department. He just couldn’t sit still so he went back to drywalling and painting in the Choiceland area.

 

 

He enjoyed playing softball, broomball, horseshoes, taking Michael to hockey and Renee to ringette.  He loved to plant the garden alongside the love of his life – Sandra.  He spent many summer days visiting with family and friends in the backyard.

 

His grandchildren were his pride and joy – he loved to pick many peas with Kennedy, watch Nick play hockey and Mitch play ball.

 

Ray fought a short and courageous battle with cancer.

 

Ray is predeceased by his father Alfred Garinger, father-in-law Cecil Person, brothers-in-law Lyndon Person and Kenneth Person.

 

He is survived by his wife Sandra, children Renee (Jason), Michael (Aimee), Christie (Darryl).  Grandchildren Nicholas, Mitchell, Kennedy, Trylan, Wyatt and Jesse.  His mother Helen Garinger, brothers Jim, Gordon (Rita), and Terry (Gaylene), sisters Margaret (Nick), Myrna (Eldie), and Marylou (Jerry).  His mother-in-law Lena Peters, brothers-in-law Randy (Karen), Calvin, Jamey (Angela), sisters-in-law Judy, Zelda (Dave), Theresa (Curt) and numerous nieces and nephews.

 

He will forever be dearly missed.