Obituary: Sam Raimond - Class of 1945

Sam Raimond, age 82, died on Saturday, July 25, 2009, following a courageous battle with heart disease. He was born on Dec. 8, 1926, in Madison, to Tony and Providenza Raimondo. Sam graduated from Madison Central High School in 1945. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He worked for the North Western Railroad and for the U.S. Postal Service, retiring in 1987. Sam enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, cooking and baking, and was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs and University of Wisconsin sports teams. He was a member of the Italian Workmen's Club and cherished the time he spent with his buddies from the Greenbush neighborhood where he grew up. Sam was also a member of St. Dennis Catholic Church. He volunteered his time to the church and to the Salvation Army. Sam is survived by his children, David, Tony (Connie), Patty, Mark (Linda), and Sam (Brenda); nine grandchildren, Amy, Missy, John, Mark, Bruce, Corey, Adam, Kayla and Brooke; four great-grandchildren, Kyle, Gabby, Kennedy and Aiden; siblings, Vi (Victor) Martinelli, Teresa (John) Brausen, John (Pat),and Pat (Janice); and sisters-in-law, Shirley (Sig) Gulvik, Audrey (Harvey) Theobald, and Kate Cook. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at, ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, with Father Lance Schneider presiding. A visitation will be held at, GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 5 p.m until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2009. Burial will be at Verona Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Sam's name to The American Heart Association. Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Centers 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on July 26, 2009