Raymond Arthur Siegl, Jr.

Raymond A Siegl, Plymouth, MN. Age 88, passed on July 16, 2025. A wonderful & caring husband, father, grandfather and musician.

Born in Milwaukee (Crivitz), WI. His early life was spent practicing and playing violin where he lettered in the All-City Junior Orchestra in 1948. As a young man, Ray was also installed as master councilor of Doric Chapter, Order of DeMolay.

In high school he and friends would take the train (sometimes sneaking on) from Milwaukee to Chicago to spend all night in the Chicago jazz clubs, only to hop the train home to Milwaukee just in time for school the next morning. After high school he worked for a few years in the local Milwaukee jazz clubs playing with greats like Nina Simone and Mel Torme and others. While in Milwaukee he fell in love and married Janet and had his son, Jack. Though Ray and Janet's paths eventually diverged, Ray continued to follow his musical dreams. Later, in the 1960's he made his way out to Las Vegas where he found himself playing in the house band at Hotel Sahara's Don the Beachcomber's world-famous Polynesian restaurant.

In 1967 he did a USO tour in a band, for the troops in Vietnam, receiving a certificate of Appreciation from the Department of Defense. Around that same time, back in Vegas, he met what turned out to be the love of his life, Gayle who he later married after pursuing her, and pursuing her, and pursuing her, in Las Vegas and Los Angeles! They wrote love letters during the time they were apart, finally marrying on June 18, 1967. Ray and Gayle ended up settling in Sacramento, CA. where their daughter Kellie was born.

Ray was self-employed his entire life as a piano tuner & technician and a bass player (sometimes violin too) and band leader. Ray also carried a Real Estate License in CA, and MN. He was not afraid to work hard. As the family moved around, he worked in Phoenix, AZ. Cincinnati, OH. where he was part of the Symphony Orchestra, playing violin, and finally Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.

Ray was known for his quick wit, punny jokes and big smile. He was relaxed in any environment and had friends of all kinds. There was no such thing as a stranger to Ray.

He was also a spiffy dresser usually dawning a hat of some sort almost all of the time.

As nature lovers, in the late 1990's/early 2000's Ray and Gayle found acreage in WI to build their dream retirement home. Ray designed the house, having the plans drawn up by an architect. Once the bones of the house were built, Ray, Gayle and family helped finish the beautiful home in the woods. They were able to spend cherished time there with the grandchildren and their dogs and mother nature. Preceded in death by his parents Ramond and Norma and wife Gayle. Survived by son Jack (Renea), daughter Kellie (Robert), Grandson Corum and Granddaughter Madison (Kate).

Ray brought joy, much humor, and the gift of music to our world and his absence is already felt. He will be missed and never forgotten.

Funeral Service 10 am Wednesday, July 23 at Gearty-Delmore Plymouth Chapel, 15800 37th Ave. N. Visitation 1 hour prior to service. Interment Lewis Cemetery, Frederic, WI.  The service for Ray will be livestreamed, a link will be posted shortly.