Laverne "Ray" Pille

Laverne “Ray” Pille, 90, of Marshalltown, Iowa and formerly of Haverhill, Iowa, passed away on the evening of March 18, 2023 at Grandview Heights in Marshalltown with his family at his side.

Services for Ray will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish: St. Henry Catholic Church beginning at 10:30 A.M. A visitation will be held for family and friends beginning one hour before services. Memorials in Ray’s name may be directed to St. Francis of Assisi Parish. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Laverne Raphael Pille was born February 26, 1933 to parents Joseph and Julia (Goodman) Pille in rural Laurel, Iowa. Ray grew up in rural Haverhill and graduated from Laurel High School in 1955.

In 1956, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Shirley Stecher in Newton. They lived in Laurel for several years while Ray worked at Cooper’s Manufacturing in Marshalltown. Later they made their home in Haverhill, where they raised their two sons. Ray made his career at Welp Grain Elevator, where he worked for 39 years until his retirement at the age of 60. Once retired, Ray and Shirley became snowbirds, traveling to Florida and Texas and eventually landing in Texas. The two spent many happy years together until Shirley’s passing in 2014.

Ray was a member of Immaculate Conception in Haverhill and then St. Francis of Assisi Parish: St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marshalltown, the Marshalltown Senior Citizen’s Center and also attended Orange Grove Church in Texas. Ray’s hobbies frequently changed during different seasons of life: everything from go-cart, auto and motorcycle races, to spending time outdoors camping, fishing and bicycling. He and Shirley frequently attended card clubs, participated in bowling leagues in the 1970’s and loved to attend family events and outings. He was also handy with just about anything you could think to do.

Those left to remember and cherish his memory are his children: Steven (Debra) Pille and Galen (Cindy Harrison) Pille; his grandchildren: Eric (Kristin) Pille, Kurt Pille, Rachel (TJ) Stumpf, Isaac Pille and Seth Pille; Cindy’s daughter Melissa Hochuli and son, Jared (Sarah) Harrison; his great-grandchildren: Caroline and Ruth Pille, Dayten, Stock, Tag, and Hexlie Pille, and Jaxon, Lincoln, and Hudson Stumpf; his brother-in-law Wilbur Manor; and many other extended family members.

He is preceded in death by his wife Shirley Pille; his grandson Nathan Pille; his parents, Joseph and Julia Pille; and all of his siblings.