Raymond J. Stroik

Raymond J. Stroik

Of Stevens Point died early Saturday afternoon at Willow Brooke Assisted Living Center.  Age 86

Raymond was born August 30, 1931 in Stevens Point. He was the son of the late Alex and Teckla (Levandowski) Stroik. He attended St. Peters Parochial Grade school, and graduated from P.J. Jacobs High school in 1950.

After graduation Ray worked at Vetter's Manufacturing Co. until 1952.

He entered the United States Army on February 6, 1952 serving 13 months in Korea as a Sergeant. He was honorably discharged on December 24, 1953.

He then attended Central State University (University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point) where he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in History in 1957. He went on to achieve a Master's Degree in Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1959. He continued his education at Madison and received his Doctorate in Philosophy in History in 1968, and his Master's Degree of Theological Studies/ Graduate School of Theology from the University of California - Berkley in 2001.

Ray was Assistant Professor of History at St. Norbert College in DePere from 1963 to 1972, then was Assistant University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Archivist from 1980 -1999. While at the UWSP Ray led a semester abroad to study in Krakow Poland in from August to December in 1987.

Ray also was very active socially as he was a founding member of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Diocese of La Crosse serving from 1980 to 1994, with the last nine years serving as Chairperson, and was also one of the founding members of Brother James Miller Day, serving on the committee from 1983 to 2004.

He also was a founding member of the City of Stevens Point Sister Cities with Rostov Veliky, Russia from 1983 to the present. Ray also wrote many columns and open letters for the Stevens Point Journal from 1975 to the present.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established at a later date.

Survivors include two brothers Rev. Placid Stroik, O.F.M , Robert ( Marlene) Stroik and a sister Theresa Hintz all of Stevens Point, and a sister in law Jan Stroik, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Victor and Richard, and two sisters and brothers in law Betty (Emil) Gliczynski and Barbara (Henry) Bortz, and brother in law Kenneth Hintz.

Mass of Christian burial will 11:00 A.M. Wednesday August 28, 2018 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Rev. Placid Stroik O.F.M. officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Guardian Angel Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 9:00 A.M. Wednesday morning at Holy Spirit Parish until the time for mass. The Pisarski Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.pisarskifuneralhome.com

The family would like to thank the entire staff at Willow Brooke Assisted Living for their care of Raymond, and to Ascension Ministry Home Hospice for their understanding and guidance shown to us.