Raymond F. Sivers

September 26, 1926 - November 1, 2021

NORFOLK -- Funeral service for Raymond F. "Ray" Sivers, 95, of Norfolk will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 6, 2021 at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Officiating will be Rev. Randy Rasmussen. Interment will be held at the Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, Norfolk. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, at the Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post 16, V.F.W. Post 1644, American Legion Riders, and the United States Navy Honors Guard. Ray passed away on Monday, November 1, 2021 at the Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk. The service will be livestreamed on the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Norfolk, NE Facebook page. Stonacek Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Raymond F. “Ray” Sivers was born Sept. 26, 1926, on his grandfather Sivers’ homestead south of Newman Grove to Carl and Fannie (Lymath) Sivers. He was baptized on Sept. 11, 1927. He graduated from Newman Grove High School in 1943. On Nov. 4, 1943, Ray joined the U.S. Navy. He spent 18 months in The Philippines in the Asiatic Pacific area as a (RM3C) radio man 3rd class. He was honorably discharged on May 23, 1946. He met Joan McManigal in Omaha, and the couple married married on Aug. 1, 1947, in Newman Grove. Ray and Joan lived in Omaha, and he worked for the railroad. They moved back to Newman Grove in 1948, and he worked as a mechanic. He worked in Osceola and Albion International until they moved to Norfolk in 1964. He then worked at the Norfolk Post Office until he retired in 1987. Ray’s second career after retirement was woodworking. He made things for his family, especially Post-Office banks. Ray was very talented and helped build homes for Habitat for Humanity, helped with Good Neighbors, Meals on Wheels, playing cards, enjoyed going to North Carolina to visit their daughter and Cornhusker football. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norfolk, church council, usher, communion set up and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. Survivors include his spouse of 74 years, Joan Sivers of Norfolk; children Lorinda (Steen) Richard of Lawndale, N.C., Jolene (Gene) Buss of Pierce and Steve (Dawn) Sivers of Pierce; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Fannie; a brother, Alfred (Marie) Sivers; sister Ethel (Earl) Schmidt; and two siblings in infancy, Sophie and Oscar. The organist will be Steve Reinke playing congregational hymns “In The Garden,” “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art.” Casket bearers will be Tom Buss, Tim Buss, Neil Sivers, Scott Richard, Brian Finn, Curtis Hinrichs and Shawn Nielsen. Honorary casket bearers will be Amy Richard, Wendi Buss, Kari Buss, Beth Buss, Jessica Sivers, Jessica Sivers, Abigail Richard, Deacon Richard, Billy Barrett, Hailey Buss, Tristen Buss, Morgen Buss, Trey Buss Hannah Sivers, Tayler Hinrichs, Amanda Nielsen, Leo Hinrichs and Wren Nielsen. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.