Raymond “Ray” Joseph Michal Jr.

Raymond “Ray” Joseph Michal Jr., Ste Genevieve, Mo., passed away, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, at the age of 81.

Raymond was born May 17, 1944, in Cadott, to Raymond Joseph Michal Sr., and Lois (Miller) Michal.

He was married to Rita (West) Michal, for 57 years, until Rita’s passing, in 2023.

Ray graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, with an accounting degree. He worked for ITT Financial, for 30 plus years, retiring as the vice president of treasury, in the mid-1990s.

He was an avid sports fan and loved watching the Green Bay Packers. Ray spent many years as a football coach, with Bonhomme football, wrestling coach, announcer and board member, with Bonhomme wrestling and Parkway South High School, softball coach and volunteering at many golf tournaments, at the Ste. Genevieve Golf Course.

Ray was an originating member of the St. Louis Local Organizing Committee, for the Division I NCAA Wrestling Tournament, and a member of the SEMO Seniors Golf Association and the Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge 2674.

Ray also loved the outdoors, fishing, camping and float trips on the Current River.

He is survived by his daughters – Holly (David) Merz, St. Louis, Mo., and Sarah (Robert) Hodo, Villa Ridge, Mo.; son – Dean (Mary) Michal, Gurnee, Ill.; sisters – Carol (Gene) Crapser, Mary (Belated Terry) Gingras and Peg (Buck) Paulsen; grandchildren – Brendan (Logan) Merz, Tanner (Sara) Merz and Logan (Padraig O’Brien) Merz, Riley (Collin Shaffer) Michal and Grace (Jackson) McClure, Collin and Nathan Hodo; four great-grandchildren; beloved brother-in-law; uncle; great-uncle; cousin and friend.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and parentsin- law – Clara Blanche (Pake) and Carl West.

Memorials can be made to The Backstoppers, Inc., www.backstoppers.org.

A celebration of life is at Andre’s South Banquet Center in St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 17, 2026, at 11 a.m.

Online condolences may be expressed at baslerfuneralhome. com. 177706