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Home
> Raymond M. Lennertz
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Memorial for Raymond M. Lennertz
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Born in Fort Benton, Montana on May 27, 1921
Departed on Mar. 7, 2010 and resided in Merrillville, IN.
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| Visitation: |
Thursday, Mar. 11, 2010
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| Service: |
Friday, Mar. 12, 2010
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| Cemetery: |
Calumet Park Cemetery
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Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
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Homesteader, World War II Veteran, and entrepreneur, Ray Lennertz, died on 7 March from heart failure. Born in 1921 in Fort Benton, Montana, a son of a Homesteader, he returned with his family to Merrillville after a series of crop failures. He attended Saints Peter and Paul elementary school and Merrillville HS. He lettered in track and basketball, claiming to his sons that he ran a 10.2 hundred yard dash when he was 14. He attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating half a year early in order to enter the US Navy to join the battle in the South Pacific. He married his college sweetheart, Rosemary, who he met at Saint Mary's College, just before deploying. He served in the 7th Fleet earning a bronze star for valor. After the War he returned to Indiana and became a salesman for Lederle Drug Company. He then managed drug stores and eventually became owner of Valparaiso Pharmacy. Ever in search of grand success he set out to create the "next McDonalds" by inventing two new restaurant concepts. Unfortunately neither start-up was successful. At the age of 50 Ray completely reinvented himself as a very successful life insurance salesman with John Hancock. He then started one of the very first financial planning firms in the area, focusing on retirement planning. When he sold his financial firm, he ended a long legacy of businesses in Merrillville owned by Lennertz families. His grandfather and father owned a feed store on the Old Lincoln Highway (73rd Avenue), his cousin Jim owned Lennertz Oldsmobile on Broadway, and his brother Chuck owned Lennertz Fireplace east of the Mall. After selling his financial business, he turned to golf and writing. Last year, at age 88, he published his first book, "The Shadow Incident", a science fiction-philosophical novel. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Rosemary, a brother, a sister, two sons, a daughter, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three infant children. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, March 12, 2010 at 10:00 am directly at Ss. Peter and Paul Church, 5885 Harrison St., Merrillville, with Rev. Roy Beeching officiating. Burial to follow at Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville. Friends may visit with the family Thursday, March 11th from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm at Geisen Funeral Home, 7905 Broadway, Merrillville and on Friday morning directly at the church from 9:00 am until the time of service at 10:00 am. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to: Catholic Charities, 176 South West St., Crown Point, IN 46307. To share a memory or send a condolence to the family, please visit the guestbook section at www.GeisenFuneralHome.com. For more information call 219-769-3322.
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