Ray Van Westen, age 48, of Sibley, Iowa passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at the First Baptist Church in George, Iowa. Rev. Stephen May officiating. Burial in the First Baptist Cemetery in George, Iowa. Visitation will be Friday, February 21 from 2:00 to 8:00 P.M. with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Andringa Funeral Home in Sibley.
Online Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to www.andringafuneralhome.com
The Andringa Funeral Home of Sibley in charge of arrangements for Ray Van Westen.
Ray Lee Van Westen was born on July 20, 1965 in Rock Rapids, Iowa. He was the son of Raymond Leroy and Carol (Cramer) Van Westen. He lived his youth in Story City, Ames, and Sibley, Iowa. He attended Roland-Story City High School, Story County, graduating in 1983. He was baptized at Central Baptist Church in George, Iowa.
Ray was a heavy equipment operator at Hallet Quarry for 16 years and was currently employed at Sudenga Industries in George, Iowa where he worked for many years.
Ray enjoyed bowling, playing pool, grilling and taking his mother to play Bingo. He also enjoyed golfing with his brother, Lonny and his two daughters, Tyra and Haliegh, where he would let the girls drive the golf cart. He loved being with his girls and family. He was a professional sports fan especially for the Seattle Seahawks and NASCAR. He enjoyed crossword puzzles and collecting baseball cards and Coca Cola memorabilia.
He will be remembered as a very out-going person and by many nicknames: Little Ray, Boom Boom, Ramon, Roy and Ray Ray.
Ray passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, Iowa.
Those left to cherish his memories are his mother: Carol Van Westen of Sibley, IA; two daughters: Tyra Jade and Haliegh Ann; two brothers: Lonny Van Westen of Sibley, IA, Mark and wife AngelaVan Westen of Story City, IA and their children: Halston Van Westen of Story City, IA, Lane Brueland and Wesley Brueland of Ogden, IA; one sister: Lorinda “Lory” and husband Laren Monson of Everett, WA and their children: Loren of Granite Falls, WA, Laura of Lynnwood, WA, Lynet of Everett, WA, Lynrae and her daughters: Keyanna, Jacqueline, and Imari of Snohomish, WA.
He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Leroy Van Westen; infant sister, Margaret AnnVan Westen and infant brother, Billie Jo Van Westen.
