Raymond P. Mantsch

Raymond P. Mantsch, 85, of Clinton passed away Sunday, October 20, 2024, surrounded by family at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Memorial Mass will be 12:00 pm (noon), Saturday, October 26, 2024 at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Clinton. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until the service time at the church. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Belgium, Wisconsin in the coming weeks. Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory is handling arrangements and online condolences may be expressed by visiting his obituary at www.snellzornig.com. Raymond Phillip Mantsch was born January 23, 1939 in the family home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Richard and Esther (Springob) Mantsch. He married Betty Blick on July 24, 1971 in Gallup, New Mexico. Ray earned his Bachelor's Degree in History and Government from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and then received an endorsement in Special Education from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He taught social studies, history and special education at schools in St. Louis, San Antonio, Milwaukee, and Clinton, Iowa. He also was a manager for Country Kitchen in Des Moines, and worked at Potter's Greenhouse and at PMI in Clinton. Ray was an active member of the Catholic Church in Clinton since 1980 and was a member of the Knights of Columbus for many years. He coached soccer and enjoyed being a referee for a number of years. He loved being outdoors and gardening, and he led the landscaping committee at Prince of Peace Parish. Ray's dry sense of wit was known by all -- and appreciated by some. He is survived by his wife Betty Mantsch of Clinton; three children: JoAnn (Darrin) Gage of Mt. Vernon, Iowa; Kevin (Shannan) Mantsch of Robbinsdale, Minnesota and Linda (Philip) Dowson of Clinton; grandchildren: Adam, Mitchell, Harrison, Grayson, Vivian, Avery, Rhys and Katherine; siblings: Peter Mantsch of Sacramento, California; David (Jeanne) Mantsch of Mequon and Philip (Susan) Mantsch of New Berlin, Wisconsin; sisters-in-law: Sharon Mantsch, Barbara Mantsch, Ellen Mantsch, Janet Petesch and Joanne (Rod) Schueller and brothers-in-law: Chris Buckheister and James (Sue) Blick. Ray is preceded in death by his parents; siblings: James Mantsch, Robert Mantsch, Thomas (Judith) Mantsch, Ruth Ann (Ronald) Glazewski, Janet Mantsch, Mary Buckheister and Joseph Mantsch, sister-in-law: Judy Mantsch and brother-in-law Ralph Petesch. Memorials may be made to Prince of Peace Parish, Landscaping.

Raymond P. Mantsch

January 23, 1939 - October 20, 2024