Raymond "Ray" Kienzle, 91, of 2700 Matthew John Drive, Dubuque, IA, and formerly of (rural Council Hill) Scales Mound, IL, passed away, on Monday, November 24, 2014, at home.

Funeral Services will be at 10 A/M, on Saturday, November 29. 2014, at St. Luke's Methodist Church, in Dubuque, with Rev. Dr. Okitakoyi Lundula officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Galena, IL.

Visitation will be from 6 P/M to 8 P/M, on Friday, November 28, 2014, at the Miller Funeral Home, East Dubuque, IL, and after 9 A/M, on Saturday, at the church.

Ray was born on July 4, 1923, at his grandparents farm near Galena, IL, the son of William and Luetta (Erbe) Kienzle. He grew up on the family farm near Scales Mound, IL. Ray went to a one room school in the country that was a mile and a half away. Water had to be carried from across the road from a farm well. He was the only one in his class of about 20 in all 8 grades. He always said that he was the smartest and the dumbest in his class. Ray always helped younger kids with their reading. He never took home work other than weekend. Being on a farm there were always too many chores on the farm. He missed going to state in a spelling contest by three words to a Stockton girl in the county. He graduated from the eighth grade in 1936 and got his G.E.D.

Ray married Amy Johnston, of Dubuque, IA, on August 25, 1046, at the Grandview Avenue Methodist Church. She preceded him in death on March 17, 2008.

Ray farmed on the family farm for over forty (40) years. In 1951, he went into a partnership with a brother-in-law, Earl Bader. Their farm was known as the Kienzle & Bader Farms. That partnership went on for forty (40) years. After farming for forty (40) years he said that he had earned his P.H.D., Plow Handle Degree, in farming. While living on the farm he was very active in his community. He was on the Scales Mound School Board, and was also a town trustee for a number of years. He was an active member of the Galena Methodist Church where he held many positions.

In 1986, Ray and Amy moved to Winter Garden, Florida, where they bought a home, but was back north for planting in the spring and harvesting in the fall. While living in Florida he held a part-time job at the Orlando Auto Auction, the largest in the USA, which he thorougly enjoyed. They did a lot of traveling, seeing all 48 states, Canada, Mexico, and taking a cruise. After living in Florida for twenty (20) years, they moved back to Dubuque to be near family due to Amy's health.

Surviving are his five (5) children; Pamela Jenn, of Marietta, GA, Linda (Rodger) Lamont, of Oshkosh, WI, Janel (Steve) Geisert, of Dubuque, IA, William (Lisa) Kienzle, of Chatham, IL, and Kevin Kienzle and friend, (Julene Coates), of Dubuque, IA; fourteen (14) grandchildren; sixteen (16) great-grandchildren; and two (2) sisters, Janette Bader, of Scales Mound, IL, and Lorraine (Darrell) Dusjahn, of Orangeville, IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Luetta; his wife, Amy; brother-in-law, Earl Bader; and a great-granddaughter, Eliza Wray Lamont.

The family would like to "thank" the staff of Eagle Pointe Place and Hospice of Dubuque for their kindness and care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Luke's United Methodist Church Building Fund.

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