Raymond "Ray" Meldaus

Raymond A. “Ray” Meldaus, age 99 of Big Birch Lake in Grey Eagle, passed away peacefully with family at his side on Thursday, March 30, 2023.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 10th at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grey Eagle with military honors following the service by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard.  Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. A private inurnment will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Grey Eagle. 

Ray was born October 25, 1923 to Michael and Naimi (Kopman) Meldaus at the family homestead on Big Birch Lake. The Meldaus family members were active within the local Finnish community. After graduating from Grey Eagle High School, Ray enlisted in the Navy in June of 1941 and proudly served throughout WWII until his discharge in November of 1945.

Ray met the love of his life shortly after the war, and in 1947, he and Elizabeth “Tootie” Buchholz were married in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ray got his start as a sharp-dressed man working at Brown’s Clothing in Minneapolis before his long-term career at Minneapolis/Minnesota Blueprint. Ray and Tootie lived in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, and after retirement, the couple moved to Big Birch Lake in Grey Eagle and wintered in Florida for many years.

Ray was an avid reader, history buff and music lover. He excelled in keeping things in immaculate order and finding ingenious solutions to problems. Ray loved sharing stories and a laugh with family & friends and relished his lifelong time on the shores of Big Birch Lake.

Survivors include his son, Jeffrey (Carol) Meldaus of Anoka; daughter, Susette (Pat) Smith of Maple Grove; grandchildren, Joelle (Andy) Pidhayny of Fort Mill, South Carolina, Justin (Jenny) Meldaus of Minneapolis, Ry (Joelle) Meldaus of Little Falls, and Matthew (Liz) Meldaus of Burtrum; great grandchildren James, Ian, Ava, Gwen, Brynn and Ross; and daughter-in-law, Deb McCloskey of New Brighton.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Elizabeth “Tootie” Meldaus; son, Brian Meldaus; sister and brothers, Esther Anderson, Clarence Meldaus, and Roy Meldaus.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Grey Eagle.