Raymond N. Hoftender, 80, of East Dubuque, IL, passed away on Sunday, Mary 4, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center, Dubuque, IA.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 A/M, Thursday, May 8, 2014, at the East Dubuque Cemetery.  There will be no visitation.  The Miller Funeral Home, East Dubuque, is serving the family.

Ray was born on November 20, 1933, near Menominee, IL, the son of Vincent L. and Marie (Loeffelholz)  Hoftender.  He married Deanna Harrison on September 14, 1957, at St. Raphael's Cathedral, in Dubuque, IA.

He was formerly employed at the Dubuque Packing Company and FDL Foods for 42 years.  He then was employed in recovery at the Telegraph Herald for 13 years.

Ray was formerly a member of the East Dubuque Volunteer Fire Department, the East Dubuque Boat Club, the East Dubuque Drum & Bugle Corps, and a former member of Local #150A of the Meat Cutter's Union.  He also served in the Iowa National Guard.

Surviving are his wife, Deanna; and four (4) children, Raymond W. Hoftender, Sandy Luchterhand, Rhonda Hoftender, and Julie Hoftender (T. J. Freytag), all of East Dubuque, IL; seven (7) grandchildren; one (1) great-granddaughter; his siblings, LeRoy (Virginia) Hoftender, Rosie (Hubert) "Jr" Brimeyer, and Vincent "Jiggs" Hoftender, all of East Dubuque, IL, Shirley (Rick) Gassman, of Dubuque, IA, Gerald "Moe" (Lynn) Hoftender, of East Dubuque, IL, and Patricia (Roger) Gross, of Dubuque, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Donald and Robert.

Deanna and family with to "thank" the 3-West Medical Staff at Mercy Medical Center, the East Dubuque Volunteer Fire Department, and Paramount Ambulance for their kind and compassionate care of Ray.  Ray was loved by many and will be dearly missed.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.millerfhed.com.