Raymond L. Stachnik, 97, of Cedar, peacefully entered the presence of God, on Monday evening, June 15, 2020, at his home with his sons by his side.

Born September 5, 1922 at a farm house on what is now called April Road in Cedar, he was the son of John and Mary (Czerniak) Stachnik and the eldest of eight children.

Ray completed the 8th grade at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Isadore and while other classmates would attend High School and graduate from Holy Rosary, Ray spent his days helping his father farm the property, skid cedar logs out of the Cedar swamp and deliver moonshine to businesses and professionals in the Traverse City area. He was drafted in the United States Air Force at the young age of 20 and served our country honorably as a munitions worker near Weldon, England during WWII. He was very proud of his time in the service. Upon his discharge, he headed to Detroit where he joined several family members who were working, to begin a new chapter in his life. It didn't take him long to realize how much he missed family and friends in Leelanau County, so he left the big city and headed back home to the farm on Stachnik Road in Maple City.

He met the love of his life while she was working as a coat checker during a dance at the Cedar Tavern, and on September 17, 1949, he married Elizabeth "Betty" Mary Mikowski, the daughter of Alex and Anna (Miller) Mikowski at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Isadore. Together they shared 59 wonderful years before she passed in 2009.
As a Cedar native, Raymond was a long time member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church. In later years he attended St. Francis Catholic Church where his son Rev. Kenneth Stachnik presided.

Ray worked for the Leelanau County Road Commission for over 30 years. He was a hard working man and was truly a jack of all trades. He could often be found in his garden or driving his John Deere Tractor to get the mail or to visit businesses and friends in Cedar. He had an incredible memory and was an excellent historian for Cedar. Ray had a good sense of humor, loved people and enjoyed to make others laugh. He enjoyed a good happy hour, polka dances, playing Euchre, gardening, canning and going for drives reminiscing about the good ole days.

Left to cherish his memory are his sons, Rev. Fr. Kenneth Stachnik, and Jim (Theresa) Stachnik of Traverse City; two granddaughters, Elizabeth "Lissa" and Hannah Stachnik; sister Loraine Kulanda, sisters in law Betty and Katherine Stachnik, Dodie Mikowski, and a host of other relatives.

In addition to his parents and beloved wife Betty, Ray was preceded in death by his siblings Alice, Larry, Louise, Al, Benny, John Jr., brothers and sisters in law Eddie, Helen, Tony, Leonard, Alex and Maxine.

Visitation will be held in the gardens at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home on Thursday June 25, 2020 from 5 to 7 pm. The prayer service will begin at 7 pm and a celebration of his life, through memories and anecdotes will follow.

The Funeral Mass will be offered at St. Francis Catholic Church on Friday, June 26, 2020, at 1:00 P.M., by Rev. Kenneth Stachnik, Rev. Patrick Collins and Rev. Wayne Dziekan. Friends and family are invited to the gardens at Reynolds Jonkhoff for food and fellowship following the mass.

Burial will take place at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Isadore at 4 pm where he will receive full military honors.

Memorial donations in Ray's honor may be directed to the Saint Francis Building Fund.