Ray Cattelan

Ray was born in Norway on March 22, 1942, to Fred and Marie (Van Den Bleeken) Cattelan and was a long time resident of Norway and a 1960 graduate of Norway High School.

He was extremely proud of the fact that he was on the varsity football team for all four years of high school, as well as a speed skater and a Golden Gloves boxer.

After graduation Ray enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Ft. Campbell Kentucky where he was a member of the 101st Airborne Division (the Screaming Eagles). After his discharge from the Army, Ray pursued his lifetime dream of becoming a Michigan State Police trooper, graduating from the academy in 1965. He served at the PawPaw and Wakefield posts until retiring in 1978 after a severe on-duty automobile accident. He went on to work as a security officer for the Niagara (NOW) paper mill until retiring in 1994.

Ray enjoyed watching Detroit Tiger baseball and was an avid University of Michigan and Detroit Lions football fan. He was also a former member of the Borderline Beagle Club of Ironwood and the Northland Beagle Club of Iron Mountain, during that time serving as a field judge. Fishing and hunting were two of his favorite pastimes, and Ray was fortunate to have made trips to Wyoming and Montana in pursuit of the “big one.” along with fishing trips to Canada and Alaska.

Throughout his battle with cancer the last few years, Ray never lost his sense of humor, which was enjoyed and appreciated by family and friends.

He is survived by his children, Lisa Cattelan of Brookfield, Wis., Lori (Mike) Moreau of Iron Mountain, Fred (Sara) Cattelan of Ironwood and Rachel Cattelan-McDonald of Little River, S.C.; grandsons, Ben and Matt Moreau and Alijah McDonald; his sisters, Yvonne (Vince) Fiorucci and Suzanne Varda Cattelan; a sister-in-law, Lu Cattelan; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Ron Cattelan.

Per Ray’s request, there will be no funeral service, but a private graveside service will be held at Dickinson County Memorial Gardens with a Celebration of Life to follow.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the V.A. Hospital, especially Mary Fornetti and Dr. Singh, Marshfield Dickinson Home Health & Hospice, and Cole from Meals on Wheels.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children s Hospital in Ray’s memory.

Condolences to the family of Ramon “Ray” Peter Cattelan may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.