Obituary for Raymond H. Flower

In the early morning hours of September 25, 2023, Raymond H. Flower, 90, of Punta Gorda, Florida and La Crosse, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully with his loving children by his side. Earlier in the day, he had visited with many family members and enjoyed watching football games.

Raymond was born on October 10, 1932, in Marshalltown, Iowa to Russell A. and Virginia (Roll) Flower. In 1946, his family moved to Dixon, Illinois where Raymond was a 1950 graduate of Dixon High School at age 17.

In May of 1950, the Korean War began and Raymond enlisted in the US Navy in February of 1951. He attended the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Chicago, where he received the prestigious “Hall of Fame” award. He then was assigned to the USS Moale in Norfolk, Virginia and attended training in the Caribbean. In May of 1951, he started machinist mate school for steam turbine engineers. While aboard the USS Moale, he was on many training cruises. The destinations included; Spain, Gibraltar, Portugal, England, Ireland, France, Italy, and Sicily, all of which were part of the European Occupation Forces. While aboard the USS Moale, he crossed the equator and completed a 55,000 mile trip around the world. When he was discharged, he was Machinist Mate 2nd Class in charge of the forward engine room on the destroyer Moale.

Following his military career, he began working for Hal Roberts Company, an Old Style and Schlitz Distributor in Dixon, Illinois as a delivery truck driver where he worked until 1961.

On February 11, 1956, Raymond married the love of his life, Mary G. Billeter in Dixon, Illinois. In 1961, Ray began his employment with G. Heileman Brewing Company, starting as the Merchandising and Draft Beer Representative. As the first district sales manager East of the Chicago Metro Area, he was headquartered in Bowling Green, Ohio. He introduced Heileman products in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. In 1971, he started a new job as Sales Manager of the Weidemann Brewery in Newport, Kentucky a Heileman Acquisition and moved to Fort Thomas, Kentucky. After four years in Kentucky, he was promoted to Director of Market and Development and moved with his family to La Crosse, Wisconsin. After several more acquisitions, he was Director of Sales and Marketing for Heileman’s largest division. After 28 years with Heileman, he retired.

Ray wasn’t all about hard work, he knew how to have fun too. He enjoyed many years boating with family and friends, playing golf, collecting cars, and playing poker.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary G. Flower (Billeter); his father, Russell A. Flower and his mother, Virginia (Roll) Flower.

He is survived by his children, Whitney (Bill) Cox, Russell (Donna) Flower, and Maggie (Scott) Jungmann; his grandchildren, Jonathan Cox, Jenna Helgeson (Zac), Casey Flower (Katie), Lindsey Flower (Travis Hudson), RaeAnn Jungmann, and Brett Jungmann; and three great-grandsons, La’Marque Hudson, Beckett Helgeson, and Cooper Flower.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, October 9, 2023, at Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Woodruff Chapel, 4239 Mormon Coulee Rd., La Crosse. Entombment will follow in the Gardens of Peace Mausoleum at Mormon Coulee Memorial Park Cemetery. Military honors will be rendered by the Roy L. Vingers American Legion Post 52 of La Crosse and the United States Navy Funeral Honor Guard. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service, Monday, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to the American Legion Post 52 of La Crosse or the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1920 or the Gundersen Medical Foundation both of La Crosse.

Online condolences may be offered at www.FredricksonFuneralHomes.com