Raymond Glen Rosacker Jr.

RAYMOND G. ROSACKER JR., 83, of Waseca, MN, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his own home on July 12, 2024, under the care of his daughter Tracie, and St. Croix Hospice. 

Raymond Glen Rosacker was born on April 28, 1941, in Waseca, MN to Raymond Sr. and Hazel (Root) Rosacker. He was the oldest of 5 siblings. Ray grew up in New Richland, MN, on the farm (of only 160 acres), the farm his dad had been born on, and helped his dad farm till graduation. Ray graduated from New Richland High School in 1959. To many he knew he was ‘Ray’, but to the immediate family he was ‘Junior’. 

After graduation, Ray decided driving semi was something he enjoyed, so he worked for Tipton Trucking until drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. Ray was drafted into the United States Army and served from 1962 to 1964. He served overseas in Vietnam from 1963 to 1964 in transportation, trucking supplies across from one side of Vietnam to the other daily. Ray and his company were some of the few solders who did not lose any brothers in the war.

Once honorably discharged from the service, Ray returned to his love of driving trucks for Tipton Trucking. Ray loved farm work, but decided driving semis was greater. In 1968 he met his wife, Katherine Albers. On May 4, 1968, they were united in marriage in Hartland, MN at Kathy’s parent’s small café. Ray immediately took on fatherhood by loving and eventually adopting Kathy’s daughter, Tracie. A few years later, Ray and Kathy adopted a son, Troy. They discovered another little one was on the way, Teresa, who was born in 1977. 

Over the next many years, Ray drove many miles over the country, first for Tipton who sold the business to Norseman Trucking, then Norseman Trucking (Steffen’s Transport) of Waseca. Ray eventually went on his own and drove the mail route from Bemidji, MN to the Cities round trip every night. After a few years of doing this, Ray and the family moved out to Denver, CO for a couple years, before they decided MN was still their home. Ray and Kathy divorced in 1991 and Ray moved to Waseca and worked at Cinch Connectivity until his health would not allow him to work at the age of 82. He valued hard work and expected the same from everyone else.

Those left to remember and cherish his memory are his children, Tracie, Troy, and Teresa Rosacker all of New Richland; grandchildren, Nathan, Elijah, and Jessica Lutgens, Mathew Rosacker, Cory, Casey, Jordan, Jaden, and Aleena Rosacker, Taya, Paige, and Meya Rosacker; nine great-grandchildren; one brother, Charles (Dana) Rosacker of Marshalltown, IA; and many nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Sr. and Hazel Rosacker and siblings, Beth, Carol and Lawrence.

Services for Raymond will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 beginning at 2:00 PM at the First Congregational Church in New Richland. A visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery in New Richland.