Rev. Raymond W. Fechner, 93, (formerly of Des Moines, IA and Fond du Lac, WI) died at Ridgewood Care Center on Sunday, May 16, 2010.

He was born in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada on May 29, 1916 to the late Rev. Walter and Minnie (nee: Fickenscher) Fechner. On November 21, 1940, he married the former Dorothy Louise Lippmann at St. John's Lutheran Church in Chicago.

A graduate from St. Louis Seminary, Rev. Fechner was ordained in 1940. After his ordination he was called to various churches in Illinois and Iowa, including; St. John's Lutheran Church in Chicago, Faith Lutheran Church in Oak Lawn, IL and Trinity Lutheran Churches in Conroy, IA and Vinton, IA. However, in 1960 he was called and served at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Des Moines for 21 years. Following his retirement he served as a visitation pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Des Moines from 1982-2000. In 2000, he and Mrs. Fechner moved to Fond du Lac, WI. They settled in Racine in 2006, attending Holy Cross Lutheran Church with his daughter and son-in-law.

Rev. Fechner had numerous interests which included golf, reading and traveling. He especially enjoyed his trips to the Holy Land where he served as a tour guide.

In addition to his wife, Dorothy, his survivors include his children, Karen (Robert) Armbrecht of Racine, Rev. David (Carole) Fechner of Claremont, MN, Deborah Drain of Tulsa, OK, Andrea (Fred) Larson of Phoenix, AZ, Michele (Rick) Meewes of Anthem, AZ; grandchildren, Timothy (Robin) Armbrecht, Matthew (Natalia) Armbrecht, Nathan (Maria) Armbrecht, Benjamin (Wendy) Fechner, Jane (Brian) Clarke, Joshua (Jamie) Fechner, Christa (Marty) Leary, Kevin and Kristopher Drain, Daniel (Julia) Swanson, Michael and Nicole Meewes; 13 great grandchildren, brother, Dr. Gilbert (Maxine) Fechner of Fort Collins, CO, sisters-in-law, Carol (Paul) Bussian of Spring Hill, FL, Carol (Garvin) Shields of Fond du Lac, WI; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Rev. Fechner was preceded in death by his grandson, Andrew Armbrecht in 1967; brothers, Ervin (Ruth) Fechner and Walter Fechner and sisters-in-law, Ruth (Erwin) Kohler and Louise (Howard) Schewe.

Family and friends are invited to meet at Holy Cross Lutheran Church (3350 Lathrop Ave. in Racine) on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. for the celebration of Rev. Fechner's life and funeral service with Rev. Karl Luchterhand officiating. There will be a visitation in the church from 10-12. A private burial will take place at Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery in Conroy, IA. Memorials have been suggested to Concordia Seminary in St. Louis (801 Seminary Place St Louis, MO 63105-3196)

A very special thank you to Ridgewood Care Center 1 West for the loving care they provided fro our husband, father and grandfather. May God bless you.