1917
Edward
2010
Edward Joseph Raica
November 14, 1917 — March 30, 2010
Munising
Edward Joseph Raica, age 92, of 121 W. Jewell Street, Munising died on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. He was born on November 14, 1917 in Munising to John and Agnes (Skurska) Raica. Ed graduated from Sacred Heart School and then attended Wm. G. Mather High School. He worked at Rossie Anderson's gas station and in 1941, he married Lorraine M. Bonevelle. Ed worked at the Munising Paper Company in the Machine Room before entering into the U.S. Army. He served from April 14, 1943 until January 19, 1946 as a mechanic in the medic corps. Ed served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater and earned the American Theater, Asiatic Pacific and Philippine Liberation Ribbons, a Meritorious Unit Award, a Bronze Arrowhead, a Good Conduct Medal, and an individual Bronze Star for "courageous service that was instrumental in saving the lives of many men and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service" on Okinawa Island on April 10th and 11th of 1945. Ed was also involved in battles and campaigns in the Southern Philippines and the Ryukyus Islands. Following the War, Ed returned home and went back to work in the Machine Room. He retired from Kimberly Clark on January 1, 1980. Ed was a member of Sacred Heart Church and the American Legion. He enjoyed snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, camping with his sons when they were young, and his camp on Stueben Lake. Ed and Lorraine were married over forty-nine years when she preceded him in death on November 3, 1990.
Ed is survived by his two sons - Thomas "Tom" (Vicki) Raica of Austin, MN and David "DJ" Raica of Munising; grandchildren - Tammy Raica of Austin, MN, Tasha Raica of Wildomar, CA, Nichole Raica of Oceanside, CA, and Jason Raica of Oceanside, CA; great-grandchildren - Cody, Katie, Brianna, David, Felisha, Ashley, Jasmine, and Karma; sister - Celica "Babe" (Hal) Smith of Fenton, MI; sister-in-law - Mary Raica of Marquette; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lorraine, daughter-in-law Dee Dee Raica, sisters Juanita "Waddie" and Ann, brothers Julius, Steve, and Henry "Hank", and friend Lois Spyker.
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Monday, April 5, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday at 1:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising where the Alger County Veterans Council and American Legion Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
Edward Joseph Raica, age 92, of 121 W. Jewell Street, Munising died on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. He was born on November 14, 1917 in Munising to John and Agnes (Skurska) Raica. Ed graduated from Sacred Heart School and then attended Wm. G. Mather High School. He worked at Rossie Anderson's gas station and in 1941, he married Lorraine M. Bonevelle. Ed worked at the Munising Paper Company in the Machine Room before entering into the U.S. Army. He served from April 14, 1943 until January 19, 1946 as a mechanic in the medic corps. Ed served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater and earned the American Theater, Asiatic Pacific and Philippine Liberation Ribbons, a Meritorious Unit Award, a Bronze Arrowhead, a Good Conduct Medal, and an individual Bronze Star for "courageous service that was instrumental in saving the lives of many men and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service" on Okinawa Island on April 10th and 11th of 1945. Ed was also involved in battles and campaigns in the Southern Philippines and the Ryukyus Islands. Following the War, Ed returned home and went back to work in the Machine Room. He retired from Kimberly Clark on January 1, 1980. Ed was a member of Sacred Heart Church and the American Legion. He enjoyed snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, camping with his sons when they were young, and his camp on Stueben Lake. Ed and Lorraine were married over forty-nine years when she preceded him in death on November 3, 1990.
Ed is survived by his two sons - Thomas "Tom" (Vicki) Raica of Austin, MN and David "DJ" Raica of Munising; grandchildren - Tammy Raica of Austin, MN, Tasha Raica of Wildomar, CA, Nichole Raica of Oceanside, CA, and Jason Raica of Oceanside, CA; great-grandchildren - Cody, Katie, Brianna, David, Felisha, Ashley, Jasmine, and Karma; sister - Celica "Babe" (Hal) Smith of Fenton, MI; sister-in-law - Mary Raica of Marquette; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lorraine, daughter-in-law Dee Dee Raica, sisters Juanita "Waddie" and Ann, brothers Julius, Steve, and Henry "Hank", and friend Lois Spyker.
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Monday, April 5, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday at 1:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising where the Alger County Veterans Council and American Legion Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
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