Raymond C. Thums

A longtime Burlington resident, died Sunday, June 1, 2014, at Layton Terrace Senior Community in Greenfield. He was 92.

Ray was born in Prairie View, IL to parents Jacob and Adeline (née Vita) Thums. The family moved to Brighton Township in Kenosha County, where they farmed for over 30 years.

Ray was a US Army combat veteran, fighting in France and Germany during WWII. He was an M3 half-track driver in the 68th Armored Infantry Battalion, 14th Armored Division.

On May 20, 1950, he married Esther M. Thom in Burlington. They raised a family in Brighton Township, moving to Burlington in 1977. They were married for 56 years; Esther passed away in 2006.

Ray traveled the country as a long-haul trucker for Kenosha Auto Transport for nearly 20 years, continuing to work the family farm between runs. For 22 years he worked as a machinist at Grove Gear in Union Grove, retiring in 1987.

Ray was an enthusiastic member of the 14th Armored Infantry Association, and always looked forward to reuniting with his fellow WWII veterans. During his retirement he enjoyed working in his yard and garage; he was never without a project! He was joyfully anticipating the arrival of his first great-grandchild this year.

Ray will be dearly missed by daughters Kathleen Thums of Stevens Point and Susan (Carl) Lock of Waukesha; sons Ronald (Jean Silverberg) Thums of Minneapolis, MN and Daniel (Patricia) Thums of Livingston, MT; grandchildren Rachel (Timothy) Keller, Adam Hustad, and Alex Hustad; great-grandson Maddox; sisters-in-law Virginia Vallely and Kathleen Thom; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Esther, his parents, sisters Sylvia and Mildred, and brothers Fred, Miles and Alvin.

A special thank you goes to the staff of Layton Terrace, VITAS Hospice and ResCare Home Care for their kindness and professionalism. A Celebration of Ray's Life will take place at the Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, on Monday, August 11, from 4:00-6:45 PM, with Service at 7:00 PM. Interment at Southern WI Veteran's Memorial Cemetery.