Raymond E. Chaussee

Raymond E. Chaussee, formerly of Sioux City, our dad, grandpa, great-grandpa and friend, passed away Sept. 5, 2009, in Midland, Mich., after 101 years and 7 months of life.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Augustana Lutheran Church. Visitation with the family will be 9 a.m. to service time at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Born Feb. 15, 1908, near Jefferson, S.D., he lived most of his life in Sioux City, and worked as a carpenter, billboard sign construction superintendent and community volunteer. Working for General Outdoor and later, Imperial Outdoor Advertising, he built many of the original billboards across Northwestern Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska.

He became a member of Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux City in 1938, where his wonderful handiwork as a skilled carpenter, project manager and "fix-it guy" will remain for many years to come. He was also Augustana's Boy Scout Leader for more than 25 years and sang in the choir for nearly 50 years. He also did volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity and the Mary Treglia House. When he wasn't helping others with projects, he loved fishing, hunting and traveling.

In 1938 he married Frances Peterson, and they shared 64 years of marriage until her death in 2002. They had two sons, Dean (Carolyn) of Helena, Mont., and Maynard (Judy) of Midland, Mich.

In addition to his sons and wives, he is survived by grandchildren, Andrea (Mike) Johnson, Todd (Sara) Hull, Travis (Shannon) Hull, Amberlee Chaussee, Scott (Cindy) Chaussee, Sharyn Chaussee, Kari (Tom) Tonkin and Elizabeth (Keith) Chaussee Lumbert; and four great-grandsons, Tyler and David Hull, Zachary Chaussee and Calvin Tonkin. Also surviving are two sisters-in-law, Viola Dixon and Victoria Miller as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by brothers, Richard and Earl; sisters, Elsie Eslick, Myra Boucher, Angeline Frost and Estelle McPherson; and a grandson, Kevin Chaussee.

Ray's great joy was building and helping others, so memorials are requested to Augustana Lutheran Church, 600 Court St., Sioux City, IA 51101, or Sioux City Habitat for Humanity, 3400 No. U.S. Highway 75, Sioux City, IA 51105.