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Raymond
Dobbratz
1928
- 2009
Raymond C. Dobbratz, 80, of Watertown passed away Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, at home.
Ray was born on Dec. 24, 1928, the son of Gerhard and Lily (Loeffler) Dobbratz. Ray married Marie Schwefel on Sept. 6, 1952, in Watertown. Ray attended one year at Northwestern College in Watertown before beginning his apprenticeship with Hafemeister Funeral Home in 1947. Ray later attended the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science in Milwaukee from 1949-50 and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in July of 1950. Ray and his wife Marie owned and operated Hafemeister Funeral Home from 1974 to 1999.
Dobbratz had been affiliated with Hafemeister Funeral Home from 1947 until he sold the business in 1999 to the Koepsell family which operated funeral homes in Beaver Dam and Mayville. The business was later sold to longtime employee Richard Nienow.
Dobbratz completed mortuary school and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 1950. When Henry Hafemeister died in 1966, Dobbratz and the late Roland Harder became partners. Harder died in 1974 and Dobbratz and his wife, Marie, became sole owners of the business until it was sold a decade ago.
Ray served in the Wisconsin National Guard for eight years and was a member of Watertown American Legion Post 189 and an honorary member of Watertown AMVETS Post 35. He and his wife Marie annually sponsored a unit in the Fourth of July parade to promote patriotism and was honored in 1985 by having the Main Street Bridge named after him for a year. He was a past ambassador of Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce, and was a former member and president of Watertown Toastmasters Club, Wethonkitha Club and Watertown Humane Society.
Ray was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. He was a former member of the Central Business Association, South Central Funeral Directors Association, Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.
Survivors include his wife Marie Dobbratz of Watertown; brother, Fred (Ruth Schwefel) Dobbratz of Madison; sister, Marie Kleisteiber of Chelsea, Mich; two sister-in-laws, Ginny Dobbratz and Janet Dobbratz both of Watertown; three brother-in-laws, Ruben (Marji) Schwefel of Dousman, Wilmar (Daisy) Schwefel of Deforest and John Schwefel of Watertown; sister-in-law, Ora (Lou) Kuckkan of Watertown; also survived by a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Herman and Edward, brother-in-law, Roy Schwefel and sister-in-law, Myrtle Hrobsky.
Ray was born on Dec. 24, 1928, the son of Gerhard and Lily (Loeffler) Dobbratz.
Memorials to St. Mark's Lutheran Church or School or the charity of one's choice would be appreciated.
Funeral service will be held on 11 a.m. Monday at St. Mark's Lutheran Church Watertown with the Rev. James Werner, the Rev. Karl Walther and the Rev. Michael Jensen officiating. Burial will be in the Lutheran Cemetery with military rites provided by the Watertown American Legion Post 189.
Pederson Funeral Home 213 S. Fifth St. Watertown
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1951
SEEN IN MEMORIAL DAY PHOTO
1985
08 07 MAIN STREET BRIDGE
NAMED
“He is a congenial, warm person who will bid you the time of day no matter where or when you meet him,” is how a lifetime Watertown citizen described Ray Dobbratz when nominating him for the Watertown Main Street Bridge Naming Contest. Dobbratz, 905 Wisconsin Street, has been named winner of the contest and will receive the award in a ceremony at 8:15 tonight at the First Street parking lot stage. He is the fourth recipient of the award, which names the downtown Main Street bridge in his honor for the year. Previous recipients are William Connor, Evelyn Rose, and Dr. Louis Nowack. WDT
1988
03 05 OUTSTANDING CITIZEN AWARD
The 1988 outstanding citizen award from the Jefferson County Reserve Officers Association was presented Wednesday night to Ray Dobbratz of Watertown. The award was presented at the organization's annual awards banquet at Jefferson Meadow Springs Country Club. Dobbratz, a native of Watertown, has been very active in the community. He was student council president of Watertown High School his senior year, graduating in 1947. He began his apprenticeship in June of 1947 at Hafemeister Funeral Home, the same time he enlisted in the National Guard. WDT
1999
10 21 HAFEMEISTER FURNITURE
STORE TO CLOSE
Although longtime businessman Ray Dobbratz recently sold the Hafemeister Funeral Home, he does not plan on retiring just yet. He can be found these days at the adjacent Hafemeister Furniture Store, but not in one of the rocking chairs. He and his wife, Marie, will continue to operate Hafemeister Furniture Store until the end of the year when the store will be permanently closed. Dobbratz, 70, said he and his wife sold their well known funeral business because it was time to step back a little and do some traveling. WDT
2000
05 26 RAY DOBBRATZ HONORED
A longtime Watertown funeral director was honored by the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association for his many years of dedicated service. Ray Dobbratz received a plaque at the association's annual convention in Milwaukee recognizing his 50 years of service as a member of the funeral home service profession in Wisconsin. “This tribute is awarded in grateful appreciation by our members who pledge to continue carrying on this tradition of American Heritage,” the plaque states. WDT
History of Watertown, Wisconsin