Ray loved spending time with his immediate and extended family and his extraordinary network of friends, including his friends at Sullivan’s in Swansea. Ray was a member of St Teresa’s Parish in Belleville since 1958. He has also been a longstanding member of the Moose Lodge in Swansea, IL. He served in the Fifth Armored Division “D” Company of the Army, 46th Armored Infantry Battalion. He was employed by East Side Service, a company he later purchased and managed as East Side Service and Home Appliance Center located in Swansea, IL.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Carol Jean, nee Klinckhardt, Korte, whom he married on August 23, 1956, and who died on July 18, 2013; his parents, Ben H. and Mary, nee Toennies, Korte; three sisters, Marie Rolves, Alice Luitjohan, and Sister Mary Judith Korte; four brothers, Ed Korte, Joe Korte, George Korte, and Ferd Korte; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Louis Rolves, Francis Luitjohan, John Luitjohan, and Agnes Korte.
Surviving are his four children, Gary Korte and Mark (Barbara) Korte, both of Belleville, IL, Thomas (Lynette) Korte of Isle of Palms, SC, and Lisa Saunders of Maryville, IL;
eight grandchildren, Kassandra (Corey) Schaab and Jerad (Nichole Haggard) Korte of Belleville, IL, Shannah (Ted) Pierce and Miranda (Brendan) Phillips of Millstadt, IL, Paige (Tyler) Filmore of Nashville TN, Brooke Korte of Charlotte, NC, Alexis (Emily Ashby) Palumbo of St Louis, MO, and Quinnton Saunders of Maryville, IL;
two great grandchildren, Ava Jean Phillips and Maddie Rae Pierce, and three more on the way;
two sisters, Alvina Luitjohan of Damiansville IL, and Sister Florence Korte, ASC of Ruma IL;
two brothers, Jerome “Dick” (Clara) Korte of Collinsville IL, and Cyril “Pete” (Jane) Korte of Highland IL;
and nieces and nephews.
Ray was a loving and devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend.
Ray requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Soldiers’ Angels, the Lymphoma Research Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or to Heartland Hospice. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 3, 2021, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, June 4, 2021, at St Teresa Catholic Church, Belleville, IL. There will be a private family viewing from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday at the church. Standard CDC guidelines, including masks and social distancing will be observed.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Friday, June 4, 2021, at St. Teresa Catholic Church, with Fr. James Thomas officiating. Standard CDC guidelines, including masks and social distancing will be observed. Interment with military honors will follow at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, IL. There will be a luncheon immediately following the ceremony at the Belleville Swansea Moose Lodge 1221 at 2425 N. Illinois St, Swansea, IL.