Raymond A. Marquardt

Raymond Albert Marquardt was called to his heavenly home to be with Jesus on July 23, 2023.

Raymond was born January 16, 1938, at the home of his grandmother, Alma Hahlweg. He was baptized at the home of his parents on February 6, 1938, and was confirmed May 27, 1951, at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Venango, Nebraska. In May 1955, he graduated from Venango High School with five classmates.

On March 19, 1959, Ray married Alberta Bersch at Saint Paul's in Venango. Shortly thereafter, he graduated with a Masters in Agricultural Economics from Colorado State University, and then went to Michigan State University for a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics with an emphasis on Marketing Statistics. Ray began his career as Director of Research for Market Facts in downtown Chicago. After having enough of the big city, he taught at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, then, onto the University of Wyoming for 19 years, where he served as Associate Dean and a Professor in the College of Business Administration. At the University of Nebraska, he was Director of the Agribusiness program, and Nordin Laboratories Distinguish Professor. His last career move was to Arizona State University, where he served as Dean of the Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management. A bonus was that he also got to move closer to his beloved grandchildren, and daughters.

Ray co-authored two marketing textbooks, published over 95 journal articles and presented over 50 papers around the world, from Norway to New Zealand. While at the University of Nebraska Ray made 10 trips to Albania to teach entrepreneurship to government officials. He also gave a two-week seminar at Senshu University in Tokyo, and a three-week seminar at Karl Marx University in Budapest. Ray and Alberta hosted foreign exchange students in their home from Italy, the Netherlands and Japan.

Ray received honors and awards too numerous to mention, but one honor he especially enjoyed, was being a guest coach with Tom Osborne, at a University of Nebraska football game.

The pillars of how he lived his life were faith and family first. His hard work ethic and integrity took him from a one room schoolhouse to Dean of the Agribusiness and Resource Management program at Arizona State University. And yet Alberta says he was the most humble person she has ever known.

Although Ray's achievements and service to the teaching profession were important, he knew the blessing of faith in his Savior Jesus Christ which was the foundation of his life. Ray and Alberta built their marriage and family on that faith. Ray served his church in numerous positions throughout his life. Ray's family was also very important to him, and he especially enjoyed activities with his grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing and golfing with them, and always the teacher, he wrote a pamphlet entitled Financial Advice for my Grandchildren.

Ray is survived by his wife, Alberta: two daughters, Debra (Jay) Shano - Baiel and Ruth Ann Miller, grandchildren: Morgan Shano, Madison Shano, Jay Baiel, McKenna Shano, and Kaden Miller, one brother, Kenneth (Mary) Marquardt. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Herman and Helen Hahlweg Marquardt and his sister Marcine Patterson.

Funeral service will be at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Venango, Nebraska, August 7th at 10 AM. Open casket visitation will be at the church at 9am. All are welcome for lunch at the church after burial in the Venango cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to La Mesa Ministries (https://lamesaministries.org/giving/) or Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Venango. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Gilbert, AZ.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Julesburg is in charge of arrangements.