Raymond B. Schiel

Raymond B. Schiel May 16, 1932-April 2, 2018 Survived by wife Gerri; children Tim, Mark (Becky), Dan, Gary, Ann Marie (Rob) Nelson; grandchildren Jennifer & Cody Schiel, Alayna & Megan Nelson; brother Bob (Linda) Schiel; sister Florence Albrandt; sisters in law Jeanette Schiel, Sally Henry and Wanda Berg; brothers in law Bill (Dorcas) Berg and Dale Berg; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral Mass, Wednesday., 04/11/18, 10:30 AM, Christ on the Mountain Catholic Church, 13922 W. Utah Ave. Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Ray was born to parents Jacob and Molly Schiel in Sterling, CO on May 16, 1932, at that time the family resided on a farm south of Sterling. They moved to California’s central valley near Merced in 1942, ultimately living on and operating a dairy farm. Ray was involved in the farm and he raised and showed dairy cattle for 4H. The family returned to northeastern Colorado in 1949 farming at two locations north of Sterling and then eventually moving into Sterling. In Sterling Ray attended St. Anthony’s High School where he met his future wife Gerri Berg. They were married in 1953 and had their first child Tim in 1954. While in Sterling Ray began his career in the grocery business at Busley Brothers Grocery Store. Son Mark was born in 1955. Ray and Gerri moved to Denver in 1956 and Ray continued his grocery career at Red Owl super markets as a produce department manager. Son Dan was born 1957. In 1959 the family purchased the home in Lakewood where they still reside today and where son Gary was born in 1960 and daughter Ann Marie in 1967. Ray had an entrepreneurial spirit and his interest in plants and gardening led him to launch a lawn and landscape service, after a couple of years he returned to the grocery business. For a time he also owned and managed rental property. Ray joined the King Soopers grocery chain in 1967 where he worked as the produce manager at several stores. He became well respected in the organization for his abilities and was called upon to help open new stores. Ray’s interest in plants and gardening led him to expand the plant and floral product offerings of his produce departments. His success with those efforts eventually lead to his rise into senior management at King Soopers where he became the Plant and Floral Buyer/Merchandizer for the entire organization in 1976. In that post he established the first plant and floral departments for the King Soopers chain. After that successful launch Ray oversaw the expansion of the plant and floral departments into all King Soopers locations where they continue to be a mainstay of the stores to this day. After several years in upper management at King Soopers Ray returned to the stores in the mid 80’s and continued as a produce manager until his retirement in 1992. Ray’s successful career also inspired his son Dan and now grandson Cody to pursue careers of their own with King Soopers. Outside of work Ray enjoyed a variety of interests including, of course, plants and gardening. At the family home in Lakewood he planted and maintained flowers and other landscaping and raised a wonderful vegetable garden every year for many years. His other interests included woodworking, sports, coaching his son’s sports teams, travel, automobiles and fishing. Ray was known as a great handyman and mechanic who could fix most anything. In the 1990’s he restored a classic Triumph Spitfire sports car and was active in the Denver Triumph Sports Car Club and showed his car at the Denver Auto Show. He was also a generous volunteer and for many years applied his handyman and woodworking skills to repairing and refurbishing wooden rocking chairs for the Mommy Rocks charity. Ray was devoted to his family and loved spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. We especially want to bring attention to and honor the 65 year marriage of Ray and wife Gerri. Friday April 6th will be their 65th wedding anniversary. Ray loved to see of his grandchildren participate in music and sports. In lieu of flowers the family is accepting donations which will be distributed to the following organizations in which his grandchildren have been involved. Green Mountain High School choir, softball, football and marching band.