On Nov. 28, 2023, Raymond L. ‘Ray’ Demel passed away peacefully at Medicalodges in Goddard, Kan., after a long illness. The son of Frank and Mary (Klug) Demel, Ray was born Aug. 3, 1948, in Claflin, Kan. In 1972, he married Lois Schneweis; they later divorced. He then married Patricia “Pat” (Stoppel) Keil on Feb. 3, 1979, in Great Bend, Kan. To their union, they had a daughter, Melissa R. Demel.

Raymond was a 29-year veteran of the Army and Army Reserves, serving in both Vietnam and Desert Storm. He was honorably retired with the rank of Sergent First Class. Ray was a great patriot. He enjoyed leading the Color Guard in the Hoisington Labor Day Parade and serval cemeteries on Memorial Day.

Ray worked several jobs in his lifetime, including for farmers, The Odin Store, Thies Packing Company, beef selector for TopCo and Dillons, the Job Service Center, United Parcel, Exxon, and Bachman Production Specialties. He was a member of the Prince of Peace Parish and a lifetime member of the V.F.W.

Survivors include his wife, Pat, of the home; seven siblings, Delores (Jim) Rosenberg of Simsbury, Conn., Rosie Schremmer of Hoisington, Robert (Rosemary) Demel of Hoisington, Marvin (Phyllis) Demel of Kanopolis, Allen (Margaret) Demel of Elk City, Okla., and Mark (Barbara) Demel of Hoisington; sister-in-law, Darleen Demel of Hoisington; many nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; and great-great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Melissa Demel; parents, Mary and Frank Demel; brother, Tom Demel; brothers-in-law, Kenny Schremmer, Ernest Stoppel and LeRoy Stoppel; and nephew, Lance Walters.

Cremation has taken place and memorial funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday Oct. 11, 2025, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Father Warren Stecklein presiding. Inurnment will follow at Golden Belt Memorial Park, Great Bend, with military honors conducted by the Ft. Riley Honor Guard. Following the graveside service, everyone is invited to Pat’s house for a meal and fellowship. Memorials have been designated to the Diabetes Foundation, Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS  67530. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Rd.

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Oct. 4, 2025