Raymond Lantow

Raymond Lantow age 85, of Fredericksburg, IA, died Saturday, February 25, 2023, at MercyOne New Hampton Medical Center. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg with Rev. Ronnie Koch officiating. Friends may greet the family from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at the church prior to the Memorial Service. Raymond Charles Lantow was born on November 30, 1937 on the Massey farm near Nashua, Iowa to Herman & Lena (Etter) Lantow. He attended rural country schools near Nashua, and Fredericksburg through the 8th grade and he did get his GED in later years. Raymond completed the family of 3 sisters (Norma, Maxine, Viola) and 1 brother (Robert). He and his family lived on this farm until he was 10 years old and then moved to the "home" place which was near Fredericksburg. As a child Raymond loved farming, hunting & fishing. One night in September 1957 he and friends went to a dance in Hawkeye and that is where he met the love of his life, Mary Pierce. He and Mary dated a few short months and were married on June 29, 1958 at the Alpha Methodist Church in Alpha, Iowa. To this union three children were born - Cindy, Harold & Glen. Raymond and Mary worked side by side on the farm for many years. Along with the farming, Raymond worked at John Deere Waterloo Tractor Works in Waterloo, Iowa from February 1967 to August 1997. Farming and working a second job was tough, but together Raymond and Mary made it work and supported their family. Raymond loved to hunt ducks, pheasants, deer, turkey and rabbits. Oh the stories he could tell of each hunt. He was also able to take some fishing trips with friends and family. Raymond loved spending time with his family and friends and sharing stories. Raymond will be remembered by his family and friends for his kindness, willingness to help out, and that he always had time to chat, have a cup of coffee and a cookie or two. Raymond leaves behind his wife, Mary Lantow of 64 years, daughter Cindy, Son Harold (Karen) and 2 grandchildren Ashley (Matt) and Nathan (Lexi) and 8 great-grandchildren Quincy, Shay, Grady, Alex, Sophia, Kaedence, Mariah & Leighton, all of Fredericksburg, IA; Sister, Viola Sullivan of New Hampton, IA, sister-in-laws Betty Sternat and Carol (Jim) Schulz of Fredericksburg, IA; nieces & nephews and many friends. Raymond was preceded in death by his parents Herman & Lena Lantow; Father & Mother-in law Eben & Ruby Pierce; son, Glen Lantow; sisters, Norma Ferguson & Maxine Bennor, brother, Robert Lantow; brothers -in-law, Paul Schulz, Elden Sternat, Dewey Barth, Gerald Ferguson, Max Bennor, Ott Schulz, John Sullivan, and George Pierce; sisters-in-law, Mary Pierce, and Ruth Barth; two nieces, Susie, Judy Bennor. As Raymond would always say at the end of a phone conversation "Bye for now" In Lieu of Flowers, Memorials may be donated to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, Northeast Iowa Antique Engine & Power Club, Alpha Methodist Church, Alpha Cemetery.