Raymond L. Childs age 87 of Marquette passed away Saturday, January 7, 2017 at the Crossing Rivers Hospital in Prairie du Chien, WI following a brief illness.  He was born May 24, 1929 in Scott Township, WI.  He served in the US Army.  He married Lola Lund on September 17, 1949 at the Congregational Church in Boscobel, WI.  Ray served as Crawford County Deputy Sheriff and later as Sheriff.  He was the past President of the Wisconsin Sheriff’s and Deputy Sheriff’s Association and was appointed by Governor Pat Lucey to represent Wisconsin in Washington D.C. for the Omnibus Crime Bill.  Ray taught five different law enforcement classes for SW Technical College in Fennimore and at Richland Center, WI.  He was proud of being a licensed river boat captain and operated the “Addie Mae” on the Upper Mississippi River for several years.   He later owned and operated the Frontier Motel in Marquette, IA.  He was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Prairie du Chien where he served on the Wisconsin Volunteers In Mission.  He was a longtime member and active in the Prairie du Chien Masonic Lodge.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lola Childs of Marquette, his children, Vicki Whalen of Prairie du Chien, Laurie (Mike Klekamp) Richardson of Gays Mills, WI, Cindy (Dennis Pedretti) Ihde of Monona, IA, Shelly Childs of Boscobel and Sally (Todd) Kann of McGregor, IA, his brother Bob (Gale) Childs of Boscobel, 15 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by a son Michael, two daughters, Marla Kay and Sandy, a special daughter Marie Russell, two infant brothers, his sisters, Shirley Childs and Sharon Bender.

A memorial service will be Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Prairie du Chien, WI, Rev. Barb Cook officiating.  Military honors will be accorded by the Prairie du Chien Honor Guard. A private family interment will be later in the Haney Ridge Cemetery.  Friends may call at the church on Friday, January 13, 2017 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Masonic lodge tribute at 7:00 PM and also on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of services. 

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