Kenneth Lester Raim

Obituary of Kenneth Lester Raim

Kenneth L. "Ken/Kenny" Raim, age 92 of rural North Liberty died suddenly Saturday, September 13, 2025, after being taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the New Life Community Church in Coralville with Reverend Ruby T. Bongolan from the Global Methodist Church of Tiffin officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4 to 7 pm at the church in Coralville. Burial will be at the Babcock Cemetery in rural North Liberty. Memorial donations can be made in Kenny's honor to the Global Methodist Church of Tiffin or Johnson County 4-H. To share a thought, memory or condolence please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service website @ www.gayandciha.com.

Kenneth Lester Raim was born June 10, 1933, near Swisher, Iowa the son of Lester and Evalyn (Klenk) Raim. He attended Walford schools, graduating in 1951. Then he served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. On December 11, 1958, he married Marcella L. Riddle at the United Methodist Church in Walford. For over 15 years, he worked for Sanitary Dairy of Cedar Rapids. During this time, the couple began their lifelong passion as farmers, something that was in his blood to the day he took his last breath.

Kenny believed in family, faith, farming, and friends. He gave back to the community by serving and leading in 4-H and his church. He was also involved with memberships in Farm Bureau, Johnson County Cattlemen and Pork Producers. In 2017, his family received the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce "Family Farm of the Year Award". Then in 2023, the Raim Family was honored at The Battle of the River Rodeo.

Kenny enjoyed playing cards, going to dances, and listening to country western music, but his love for his family, friends, his faith and farming was simply his way of life! He took great pride in building this family farm along with his wife and sons. He found great joy in working side by side with Marcella, Dan, and Dave. He felt they could tackle any task with this team in place. You might find them walking a bean field on a dewy summer morning and filling the barn with hay in the afternoon. Then, maybe, you might see them headed to town riding 4-wide in the front seat of Kenny's red Ford truck heading for an ice cream or a Casey's donut. He loved farming and he loved his family, but most of all he loved farming with his family.

His family includes his wife, Marcella being married for over 66 years; sons and their wives, Daniel and Sheila Raim and David and Michele Raim; grandchildren, Lydia Greiner (Ryan), Eleya Shetler (Jessie) Hannah Hoffmann (Timothy), and Ethan Raim; great-granddaughter Keonna Shetler; two sisters, Carol Bella and Twyla Jenewein (Brad); and many nieces and nephews.

Kenny was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Don; brothers-in-law, John Bella and Frankie Riddle; sister-in-law, Dolores Wagner; nieces, Susie Bella, Mary Bella, and Brenda Broulik; and twin granddaughters, Nadine and Elaine Raim.