Ray Stankey

Ray Stankey, 79, of Benton Harbor, MI, passed away on Monday, Oct. 24, 2005, at home. There will be a Liturgical Prayer Service held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, at Dey-Florin Chapel, Florin Funeral Service, St. Joseph, MI, with Fr. Bill Jacobs officiating. Friends may visit with the family on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home. A private burial will take place in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. Memorial donations may be made to Chicago Fraternal Order of Police or to the St Joe Lincoln Senior Center, St Joseph, MI. Ray was born on Aug. 4, 1926, in Chicago, to Loretta Bruszczynsky (Brisko) and Stanley Stankey (Stankiewicz). He proudly served in the United States Army as a paratrooper in Normandy, Belgium, and Germany during World War II. His humility kept him from detailing his work as a pioneering criminologist with the Chicago Police Department under Richard J. Daley. His gentle strength showed in calmly shouldering the challenges of raising a large family in turbulent times, and bringing all six of his children to adulthood well prepared. These simple, but timeless, traits are those that Ray taught by his unwavering example. Ray moved to Benton Harbor to be near his eldest daughter and son during his retirement, denoting the premium he placed on family. If he ever spoke ill of another, it went unrecorded. His passing leaves a void that will not soon be filled, but his approach to life's journey lives on in his children, Margaret Walter, M.D. of St. Joseph, MI, Ray Stanton of Stevensville, MI, Karen Johnson and Jerry Stanton, both of Connecticut, Sheila Sandoz of Sydney, Australia and Ted Stankiewicz of Munster, IN; their mother, Patricia Rossow of Wisconsin; 11 grandchildren; and those who knew him best. May God embrace him.