Raymond Erbs
Raymond Erbs, age 92, of Janesville, died on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at St. Mary’s Janesville Hospital. He was born in Grand Mounds, IA on Oct. 21, 1920, the son of Henry and Belle (Davis) Erbs the sixth of eight children. He grew up on a farm at a time when people used wood stoves, outdoor toilets, and Model T Ford’s. He grew up lean and poor in the great depression. This gave Ray a drive to succeed with high moral values that served him well through out his life. His family moved to a small farm in Tomah, WI, and then to Milton and Evansville. Ray enjoyed building model planes, roller skating and playing on the Milton High School Basketball team. He also managed to spend a lot of time on the Milton College Campus. World War II came for Ray in 1942. He joined the Greatest Generation and was put in the Army Air Corps. The Army sent him to the South Pacific as a radar operator and repairman with the 9th Air Force. After the war, ended Ray came home to a slow economy in Southern Wisconsin. He worked for the Kemp family, Ossit Church Furniture, and J.J. Smith Jewelers.
He met the love of his life Dorothy Cook at Tanglefoot Roller Rink, and they were married on April 6, 1946, in Janesville. After his marriage, Ray reenlisted in the U.S. Army that year due to a slow economy. He became a civilian again in 1948, and went to work for General Motors on the truck line, until 1953. He then worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a City Clerk, where he worked various jobs and shifts during his 30-year career, retiring in 1979. After his retirement, he did odd jobs at the Janesville Country Club, the Wisconsin State Journal, and the International Harvester Farm Equipment Company. He enjoyed Ice Cream, watching the Packer’s and Badger Football games, and spending time at his house across from Riverside Golf Course. He was an active member of the Boy Scouts of American, the American Legion Post #205, and Friends of the Janesville Public Library. Ray enjoyed playing golf, riding his lawn mower and was a great animal lover.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Erbs; son, Gregory Erbs of Anchorage, Alaska; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and 7 siblings: Vera Ballard, Gladys O’Connor, Marvelle Strohbusch, Vernon J. Erbs, William Erbs, Francis Erbs, and Darlene Bagstead.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013, at SCHNEIDER APFEL SCHNEIDER & SCHNEIDER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY with Rev. Jerry Amstutz officiating. A visitation will be held on Friday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at SCHNEIDER APFEL SCHNEIDER & SCHNEIDER FUNERAL HOME. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.
