Obituary of Father Raymond John Zeugner

REV. FR. RAYMOND ZEUGNER

WINTER HAVEN, FL - Reverend Father Raymond John Zeugner, age 87, formerly of Norway and Florence, died Sunday, March 5, 2023 in Winter Haven, Florida.

Born on January 19, 1936 in Norway, Michigan, he is the son of the late Lawrence and Adeline (Kaster) Zeugner. He attended McKinley School from 1942-46, West Side Grade School 1946-49 and graduated from Norway High School in 1954.

After four years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Ray furthered his education at Northern Michigan University from 1958-60. In response to God’s call to the ministerial priesthood, Ray attended Resurrection College in Kitchener, Ontario from 1960-62 and St. John Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan from 1962-65.

Ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1967, by Bishop Thomas Noa, Fr. Ray served as associate pastor at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette for a year and then at St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish in Hancock until March 1970. He was appointed associate pastor at St. Mary St. Joseph Parish in Iron Mountain until 1976, and then served briefly as associate pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Munising and St. Therese Mission in Au Train.

On August 5, 1976, Fr. Ray was named Pastor at St. Michael in Perronville, St. Joseph Mission in Foster City and St. Joseph Mission in Northland. He became Pastor of St. Rita Parish in Trenary and St. Therese Mission in Au Train on July 14, 1981. On April 8, 1982, he began serving as the Diocesan Liaison for the Charismatic Renewal. He was named pastor of St. Rose Parish in Channing and St. Joseph Mission in Northland on July 12, 1983. In 1985, Fr. Ray became pastor of Precious Blood Parish in Stephenson and St. Frederick in Daggett Mission. St. Bruno Parish in Nadeau was added in 1994. He began his last pastorate at Guardian Angels Parish in Crystal Falls on July 1, 1997 and remained there until being granted Senior Priest Status and retirement on July 1, 2003. Until two days before his passing, Fr. Ray assisted at St. Matthew Parish in Winter Haven, Florida. He enjoyed serving other Catholic Communities in the New Haven area as well, where he continued his ministry to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

Fr. Ray understood that his faith and the ministerial priesthood were precious gifts from God. His ministry seemed to be characterized by a prophecy received by his dear friend, Sister Frances DeMott, IBVM, which she shared with Fr. Ray on the 25th anniversary of his ordination on June 3, 1992: “My beloved son, what a joy it is for me to see you honored this day. This is only an inkling of the joy I will have when I will no longer be able to resist calling you to Myself. O, for the day when I can say, come my beloved and receive the reward I have prepared for you.”

Fr. Ray is survived by brother James (Eileen) Zeugner of Vulcan, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters Geraldine Kosciuk, Betty Zeugner, Margarite “Peggy” Zeugner and Joyce Bezier; brothers Richard and Thomas Zeugner.

Friends may call on Wednesday, March 15 from 10-12 p.m. CST at St. Mary’s Church in Norway.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 12 p.m. with the Most Reverend John F. Doerfler presiding. Monsignor Michael Steber will serve as homilist. Bishop Emeritus James Garland and priests of the Diocese of Marquette will con-celebrate.

A luncheon will follow in the parish hall. Interment will be held in the family plot at Norway Township Cemetery.

Condolences to the family of Fr. Ray may be expressed online at www.ortmanfuneralhome.com

Arrangements were made with the Ortman Funeral Home in Norway.