Raymond Calvin Vandeventer, Jr. 78, of Charles City

Raymond Calvin Vandeventer, Jr. 78, of Charles City, Iowa died in a house fire at his home in Charles City on April 6, 2026.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at The Bridge Church in Charles City. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Raymond was born on December 28, 1947, the eldest child of Raymond C. Vandeventer Sr. and Allavina (Adelmund) Vandeventer in Charles City, Iowa.

He attended the Charles City Schools and graduated in the class of 1966. He worked at several different jobs locally including Walsh Manufacturing, White Farm, and diversified, but found his true life’s calling in over the road trucking for a living after getting his degree at Joliet Junior College. He was a lover of all things racing, from his own stock cars with his brother, to following Jeff Gordon closely for years in NASCAR.

In 1971, Raymond married Karen Jordan and was blessed to adopt her daughter, Irene. They later divorced and in October of 1992 he got remarried to Joann King. From this union he was again blessed with a daughter, Bobbie.

Ray and Joann always enjoyed going to auction sales together and flea markets where they loved to meet new people and collect treasures. They were always together and making each other laugh. She passed away in 2020. Ray kept on enjoying family gatherings during the holidays and visiting with anyone he could downtown, even strangers. He would greet them with a joke, sometimes inappropriate, and do his best to make them smile. He especially loved time with grandchildren. Thursday night babysitting was always a special time. The last couple years of his life were spent battling health problems including lung cancer. But he kept the smile and jokes going at every single doctor’s appointment up until the very end.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Sr. and Allavina Vandeventer, and his wife, Joann.

He is survived by his 2 daughters, Irene Douglas of New Hampton and Bobbie Wessling of Charles City. His brothers, Richard (Dorthy) Vandeventer, Roger (Sandy) Vandeventer, and Randy (Terri) Vandeventer, as well as his sisters, Gloria Troge and Lorie Barber all of Charles City. Also left to cherish his memories are his 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. As well as many nieces and nephews.

The family also wants to thank the community for the outpouring of love and support they have received during this time of loss.

Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements.  Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.