Donald Raymer

RAYMER
Donald George Raymer, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Central Illinois Public Service, died after a short illness at Colonial Gardens Alzheimer's Residence in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, November 7, 2009. He was 85. Donald was born July 16, 1924 in Jackson, Michigan, to the late Donald R. and Vivian Wolfinger Raymer. He attended Jackson Junior College and Marquette University, where he majored in Electrical Engineering. His active service in the Navy during World War II included 18 months' duty in the Pacific Theatre as an Ensign and Second lieutenant aboard the supply ship, U.S.S. Castor. Following end of World War II, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Michigan. In 1948, Donald accepted a position as Field Engineer with Central Illinois Public Service in Springfield, Illinois, beginning an association that would last his entire career. In October of that year, Donald was united in marriage to the former Joan Elizabeth Steck, also of Jackson. Moving up the management ladder in CIPS, Donald was awarded an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship in 1959 to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he would complete a Masters in Science in Industrial Engineering in 1960. In 1965, Donald was promoted to Manager of Eastern Operations in Mattoon, Illinois. He returned to Springfield in 1968 as Operating Vice President, later becoming Executive Vice President in 1978. Donald was elected to the company's Board of Directors in 1972. In 1980, the Board of Directors unanimously elected him president of CIPS. Donald retired from CIPS as President and Chief Executive Officer in July of 1989. Donald was a member of the Board of Directors of Marine Bank (Now J.P. Morgan Bank) in Springfield and served as Chairman of the Board of Memorial Medical Center. He also served on the board of directors of the Electrical Energy, Inc., the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, and the Springfield and Sangamon County United Way. He and his family were members of Christ Episcopal Church from early in their Springfield years until his move from the city following Joan's death in 2005. Donald was known by friends and associates for his kindness and his unshakable commitment to his responsibilities. Although challenged late in life by blindness and Alzheimer's Disease, he maintained a sense of humor and gratitude that deeply touched all who came in contact with him. He is remembered by his family as an extraordinarily loving and devoted father and spouse. Donald is survived by his daughter and her husband, Mary and Peter Dorward of Harvard, MA; his daughter, Dorothy Raymer of Madison, WI; his son and his wife, Charles and Alison Raymer of San Antonio, TX; five grandchildren, Emily Dorward, Samuel Dorward, Charles Dorward, all of Harvard, MA, William Raymer, of Madison, WI, and Elsie Horney Raymer of Madison, WI; one sister, Geraldine Pearson. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Steck Raymer, and his sister, Dorothy Raymer. A visitation for Donald will be held Thursday, November 12, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel, 800 South Grand West, Springfield, IL. Funeral services will be at Christ Episcopal Church, 611 E. Jackson, at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 13. Donald's funeral will be followed by a short reception in the church's Fellowship Hall and a burial service at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family requests that memorials in Donald's name be sent to the Alzheimer's Association. We wish to give special thanks to his caregivers for their special efforts during the last year of his life. Sign the guest book and send condolences at www.boardman-smith.net
Boardman-Smith
Funeral Chapel
800 S Grand Ave West Springfield, IL 62704
217-544-7461