RAYMOND FRANK SAWALLISCH

BORN : AUGUST 8, 1927 ALGONQUIN, ILLINOIS

DIED: JUNE 11, 2020 SYCAMORE, ILLINOIS

Raymond Sawallisch was born August 8, 1927 to Minnie (Wolter) and Frank Frederick Sawallisch. He was born in a farmhouse west of Algonquin and had an older brother, Howard (age 2).  Ray passed away peacefully under hospice care in his residence at Lincolnshire Place, Sycamore, Illinois.

Ray and his family moved to Genoa in his youth and he attended a one room schoolhouse on Ash Road in Genoa. Ray left school at age 15 to buy a milk truck route with his brother Howard (who had to drive the truck because Ray didn't have his driver's license yet).  Ray's jobs included the milk route, while also working factory jobs at Anaconda Wire and Cable Company or General Electric.  In 1958, Ray established his farm on Route 23 in Genoa, Illinois. It was a dairy and grain farm operation, to which he and his family were very devoted.  Ray's brother, Howard, ran a similar operation down the road, so the families often shared farming experiences and family events together. Ray retired from farming in 1988.

Ray had three children with his first wife: Stephen (1952), Joseph (1954) and Deborah (1956).  Ray met his next wife, Evelyn (Lindberg) Meredith while dancing at the Blue Moon in Elgin. Evelyn was the mother of 4-year-old twin daughters, Ann and Brenda. Ray married Evelyn (the love of his life) in 1964. Together, their blended family ran the farming operation in Genoa. Ray dearly loved Evelyn, who was a wonderful mother, fantastic cook, and employee of Genoa State Bank.

When Ray retried from farming in 1988, Ray and Evelyn moved to Greenville, Illinois. Unfortunately, Evelyn lost her battle with brain cancer on Mother's Day 1991, at age 53.  Ray then moved to a newly constructed ranch home in a subdivision in Effingham. In late 2015, Ray moved to Sycamore due to health issues and to be near his sons. Ray moved into Lincolnshire Place, a memory care residence in March 2016. The family greatly appreciates the residential and health care provided by all staff members of Lincolnshire Place, Dr. Dhaval Thakkar, and Heartland Hospice.

Ray was predeceased by his wife Evelyn, daughter, Debbie (Mike) Graham, parents, brother and sister-in-law, Howard and Claudine Sawallisch, and granddaughter, Dawn Scott. Survivors include his sons, Steve (Cathy) Sawallisch and Joe Sawallisch, Sycamore, Illinois; daughter, Brenda Clark, Glasgow, Kentucky; and daughter, Ann Stewart, San Antonio, Texas. Additional survivors include grandchildren Stephanie Sullivan, Joe Sawallisch, Brooke (Marty) Timm, Angela Graham, Michelle Clark, Nicole Clark, Alicia Meyers, Teela Stewart, and Jackson Stewart. Additional survivors include 3 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, and numerous other relatives and friends.

A memorial visitation will be on Saturday, August 8th from 11:00 AM- 12:00 PM at the Slater-Butala Funeral Home, 132 W. Main St, Genoa, IL.  The burial and remembrance ceremony will follow at the Genoa Cemetery.  To sign the online guest book or write a special memory, go to www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) or sent to the Slater-Butala Funeral Home, 132 W. Main St.,  Genoa, IL 60135.