John "Jack" Henry Raven

John “Jack” Henry Raven, 87, of Bloomer passed away on February 17, 2018 at Atrium Post-Acute Care under the care of St. Croix Hospice. He was born on May 9, 1930 in Bloomer, Wis. He was the son of Roger and Mildred (Berg) Raven. He was raised on the family farm north of Bloomer where he has lived for most of his life. He married Virginia Buchanan on October 5, 1962. Jack worked for Madison Silo, farmed on the family farm, worked as an equipment operator, worked for several trucking companies including Vant Transfer and Walzon as an owner-operator. Jack was a mechanical genius and was able to repair just about anything on a semi in just about any location.

Jack enjoyed working on all things mechanical, visiting with friends and family, helping people (and homeless animals) with anything they needed, complaining about the government, and talking politics. Anyone who knew Jack knows what a good story teller he was and how much he enjoyed reminiscing about his time at Madison Silo when he and his crew set records, all the fun he had back in the day roller-skating with Betty, his time with the Yipahooties (a farm-boy motorcycle gang), his antics on his Indian and Harley motorcycles, his horseback riding adventures, and many trucking stories which often ended with, “We had so much fun."

He is survived by his sisters Joanne Hesselink of Neshkoro, Wis., and Judy (Tom) Tomlinson of Westfield, Wis.; his children Rebecca Raven of Snellville, Ga., and Jim (Denise) Raven of Stanley, Wis.; grandchildren Vance Raven of Colorado, Bryan Raven of Eau Claire, Wis., Jakob (Dana) Raven of Midway, GA, Jack (Jessa) Raven of Elk Mound, Wis., and step granddaughters Jessa Peterson, Vallie (Alex) Meyer, Petra (Luke) Sigmund, Briana (Jeremy) Noble, Kenra (Brandon) Stevens, Riley Raven, Rebecca, Jewelz, and Elizabeth Lahner; great-grandchildren Bryanna Shackleton, Chloe and Sydney Raven, Amelia, Eli, Silas, and Quill Raven, Jacey and Jamison Raven, and many step great-grandchildren; three step great-great grandchildren; long-time friend and helper Jodi (Dohms) Oman, and numerous nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Donald, and daughter-in-law Bambi (Dohms) Raven.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, February 23, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bloomer with Pastor Strand officiating. There will be a visitation on Friday before the service from 11:00-1:00 PM, at the church. Interment will be in the Bloomer Cemetery.