Ray A. Kerr

SIOUX CITY -- Ray A. Kerr, 93, of Sioux City passed away Friday, Sept. 18, 2009, at Sunrise Retirement Community.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Monday, September 21, 2009 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Martha Anderson officiating. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Ray was born Sept. 16, 1916, in Cushing, Iowa, to Clyde and Goldie (Carnes) Kerr. He graduated from Battle Creek High School in 1935. Ray married Hazel Sengelman on Feb. 15, 1941, in Sioux City. Hazel passed away on Feb. 18, 2008, in Sioux City. Ray and Hazel were married 67 years and spent most of those years in the home they built together.

During World War II, Ray was stationed in West Palm Beach, Fla., as a weatherman in the U.S. Army Air Force. After returning to Sioux City, he worked for Refrigeration Engineering Company as a refrigeration engineer until his retirement in 1978.

Ray was a member of American Legion Monahan Post 64. He loved woodworking and working with metal lathe. He built items including grandfather clocks, model ships and live model steam engines. Sitting outside and enjoying nature was one of his favorite pastimes, which included camping, hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his daughter, Karen Larson and her husband, Lowell of Hill City, S.D.; two sons, Kenneth Kerr and his wife, Marsha of Eaton, Ohio, and Kevin Kerr and his wife, Marla of Sioux City; two brothers, Donald Kerr of Battle Creek, Iowa, and Harlan Kerr and his wife, Marjorie of Wind River Valley, Wyo.; a sister, Esther Nailor of Sioux City; eight grandchildren, Lori, Steve, Will, Jason, Tanya, Aaron, Rachel and Eva; and four great-grandchildren, Katie, Ethan, Arcade and Adam.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a brother, Ralph; and his beloved family dog, Pooch.