Raymond Monroe Thorpe

Raymond Thorpe Obituary

Raymond Monroe Thorpe, 70, passed away on Monday, May 20, 2024 in Chicago, IL. He was born April 2, 1954 in Des Moines, IA, son of Raymond Miller Thorpe and Patricia Margaret Bellamy Thorpe. The family moved to Cedar Rapids in 1960 where Ray grew up with his brother and two sisters. He was crazy about all sports and was involved in the startup of the first soccer teams in Cedar Rapids in the early 1970's. Ray graduated from Jefferson High School in 1972, where he was active in sports and theater. He played Lazar Wolfe in Fiddler on the Roof. He attended The University of Iowa where he was a manager for the Iowa Hawkeye football team. Ray was a crowd pleaser as he ran onto the field and swooped down to pick up the kicking tee after each kickoff without breaking stride. While a student, he met and married Marilyn Almcrantz in 1977. The two settled in the Chicago area and raised their three children, Jennifer Lorelei Moore, Sasha Kimberly Thorpe, and Colin Michael Thorpe in the city of Oak Park, IL. Ray was a stay-at-home dad when the children were young. He was extroverted, funny, smart, loving, and strong. He was a great cook, and active in his kids' sports. He also taught himself to sew and made elaborate Halloween costumes for his children. He loved talking on the phone with family and always knew where everyone was and what they were doing. He was an expert on movies and could tell you who the actors were, and the names of other movies they played in. He was considered a walking Internet Movie Database. Ray loved to socialize and was known for celebrations like the Lobster Bash, an annual event he and Marilyn hosted at their home. He was called "Bunny" by his family and was known as "Keebler" to many of his friends. He will be deeply missed. At the time of his death, Ray worked as a solicitor for Vietnam Veterans of America. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Carol Lynne Thorpe. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, his three children, grandson ReJon, siblings Robert Thorpe (Karen), Judith Thorpe Hierstein (William), and Lisa Thorpe, along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.

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Published by The Gazette on Jul. 28, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Raymond Thorpe

7 Entries

Paula Braunshausen

March 17, 2025

I hadn´t gotten a call from Ray for a collection in a while and decided to google his name, I´m so sorry to hear that he passed. I will truly miss his friendly voice asking if I had anything to donate. Rest in peace Ray.

Debbie

January 21, 2025

Ray's calls would come regularly asking for Amvet donations. We often talked about what was going on and he even suggested a Chinese restaurant to me. I will miss Ray's calls and happy voice. My condolences to his family and friends.

Sue J

November 11, 2024

I always looked forward to Rays calls for Amvets donations. We always chatted a bit about whatever happened to be on topic that day. He is sorely missed. My condolences to his family and friends.

Bob Dane

September 5, 2024

Great friend, great employee at the Nickelodeon. Yes, he just fit behind the bar.

Jack and Denise Schmitt

August 19, 2024

Ray called regularly for donations. We would often talk about cooking or other odds and ends. When my husband and I cleaned closets we would say "put it in a bag for Ray". Since we had not heard from him for sometime we looked into it.
So very sorry for your loss. Please know we will be missing his cheerful voice and conversation.

Eric Oliver

July 30, 2024

Dear Marilyn and Family, I will never forget the day I heard an unusual sound coming from the Grant Elementary Playground across the street from my childhood home. It was Ray kicking a soccer ball into the baseball backstop. I had never seen a real soccer ball and I ran across the street for a closer look. Ray was around 15 and I was probably 10. I knew who he was from stage productions at Wilson Junior High. Clearly Ray was preparing to play in the upstart soccer league at Jones Park but he smiled and welcomed me to join him explaining that his Mom was from England and the ball had actually come from there while he was teaching me the proper way to kick, pass and trap the ball. I was hooked. I remember seeing Ray in stage productions at Jefferson High School and on the sidelines in his football role at Jefferson and Iowa. I always wanted to find Ray and tell him that I played 'Club Soccer' during its first year of existence at Kirkwood Community College in CR. I am proud to say that I was the only one on the roster whose native language was English. I enjoyed my adult days teaching PE at Roosevelt Middle School. It was the ELL (English Language Learners School) and it was not unusual to have students from multiple countries in my classes. Many a day I approached a trembling first day student who did not understand a word of English and smiled and handed him or her a soccer ball to keep. 90% of my budget was spent on those soccer balls. Thank you Ray for your smile and kindness on that day in the late 1960's. No way for you to know that I passed your kindness forward many, many times during my teaching career. Wish I could have hooked up and shared this with you. Grab that ball and wait for me on the other side. We will resume our game right where we left off on that beautiful sunny summer afternoon on the Grant Field ! Many Blessings to You and Family.
Thank you Again Ray,
Eric Oliver
Roosevelt Middle School (Retired)
Cedar Rapids, IA

Scott Martin

July 28, 2024

I'm one Hawkeye fan that remember Ray run across the field and scoop up the tee, thank god he did because for many of those games it was one of the few cheers! God bless the family and know he was loved by thousands of fans!

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