Raymond Roloff
September 9, 1942 ~ March 22, 2021
Raymond Carl Roloff, 78, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away after fighting a yearlong courageous battle with pancreatic cancer on March 22, 2021, at Hospice House of Mercy. Visitation: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 26, 2021, with a memorial service following at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services in Cedar Rapids.
Friends and extended family are invited to watch the service via livestream. Please find the livestream link on Ray's tribute wall and share your support and memories with his family.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Patricia; children, Christina (Chris) Pipkin, Raymond Carl Roloff III, Virginia Smith and Thomas (Tassanee) Roloff; grandchildren, Braydon, Myles, Carissa, Abigail, Mya, Adara, and Kairon; and his beloved cat, Stevie.
Raymond Carl Roloff was born September 9, 1942, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, to Raymond Carl Roloff, Sr. and Mary Virginia (Hanson) Roloff-Hetzer. Ray grew up in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area with his siblings: Diana, Judy, Sharon, Patty, Linda and David. Ray joined the Army right after graduating from high school and did multiple tours of duty in Vietnam serving as a medic with the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. After returning home and marrying the love of his life, Pat, he made his career in the Army. He was integral to starting the School of Perfusion at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and retired from the Army in 1984 as a Sergeant First Class after 22 years of service. Ray went on to become a Perfusionist with the Heart Program in Minot, North Dakota and eventually moved with his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1986. Ray worked as a Perfusionist at St. Luke's Hospital for 20 years and officially retired in 2007.
Ray was known as 'Butchie' to his family; he loved to travel, research genealogy, collect old newspapers, magazines, and records. He enjoyed listening to music from the 40's through the 70's and singing along. He loved old cars, feeding the deer, and taking care of his family. He was a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan and was a season ticket holder for decades, SKOL!
Ray is preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, Kenneth Hetzer; his sister, Judy (Roloff) House; and his special calico cat, Gizmo.
Memorials can be directed to Hospice House Mercy or to the Cedar Valley Animal Shelter.
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The Bailey’s offer our condolences to your family. Through Myles we’ve come to understand that Raymond was a wonderful person. May his memory live on.
It was my honor to have served with Ray as Chief of the Cardiac Perfusion Team at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the mid-1970’s. Also, to know his wife and young children and share our Army and perfusion careers was indeed enjoyable and memorable. I also remember our diner as civilians during a business trip to Cedar Rapids sometime late in the 80’s. I am saddened by his passing but very thankful I got to work with him many years ago. My condolences to Pat and children. Joe Mandl (formerly Captain Mandl, Medical Service Corps) Photo attached, Ray middle upper row, around 1975.{ Larry Cavanaugh upper left, Joe Mandl upper right, Terry Jones lower at pump)
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
I’ll never forget meeting Ray for the first time. I was coming to visit Gini after she had had Myles, Ray answered the door, stood staring at me for a minute before opening the door to tell me no one was home and he had no money to buy anything. I, btw, was 7 months pregnant with my son. Lol He then laughed and smiled and invited me inside to the kitchen and I’m pretty sure he offered me everything except moving in! What a caring man he was. We became instant friends! Ray and Pat are definitely two of the greatest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. My thoughts and prayers are with you Pat and Gini and all of your family as well. May you all find comfort and peace. All my Love Lauranna
We will miss “Raymond Roloff”.
Thank you Joe for the wonderful words. We all just love this picture. Would you mind sending this to us when you can? tinapipkin@gmail.com. Thank you!
I have been a very privileged person in my life and at the top of that list would be my friendship with Ray. I followed him to Viet Nam, then to Ft, Riley, KS, and then on to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I then left the Army to help start the open heart program at St, Lukes in Cedar Rapids in 1978. Ray later joined me at St. Lukes. Ray and Pat have been our friends for over 45 years. Ray was always a hard worker, a true friend, a family man who loved his family so very much. He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know him. The Lord now has a new Angel. Terry and Jean Jones
It was great seeing Ray when you both came down to see dad. We really enjoyed your visit. He will truly be missed. Our prayers are always with you and the family. We love you. The Martell’s from Texas
Tina and Family, please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.