Raymond Six, 87, West Concord

 
Raymond Alvin Six, 87, of West Concord, died Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, at Benedictine Living Madonna Towers, Rochester.
Ray was born Aug. 5, 1938, in Knoxville, Iowa, while his parents Harold Alvin Six and Mary Belle (Wright) Six were visiting his grandparents in Dallas and Melcher, Iowa.
He graduated from Des Moines Technical High School in June 1956. He attended Grandview College 1956 to 1957, then transferred to Iowa State University, graduating in May 1960, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Education. Between 1964 and 1966, he took night classes and summer sessions through Northeast Missouri State (now Truman State), Kirksville, Mo., to obtain his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration. He participated in a Doctoral Program at Iowa State University from 1968 to 1974, doing all coursework except his dissertation.
Ray enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard on June 4, 1956, a week before high school graduation. In 1959, he graduated from the Iowa Military Academy and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 234th Signal Battalion, Iowa Army National Guard. In 1963, he transferred to the United States Army Reserves. He held positions as Division Photo Officer, Platoon Leader, Training Officer, Company Executive Officer, Headquarters Company Commander, Administrative Officer, Mobilization and Plans Officer, Military Occupational Specialty Course Director. His final assignment was as 88th Army Reserve Command Chief, Intelligence Security Officer at Ft. Snelling in St. Paul. Raymond was a proud United States Army veteran, he retired in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on June 11, 1988, with over 32 years of military service.
From fall 1960 to spring 1962, Ray taught industrial arts at North Polk Community Schools, Alleman, Iowa, then taught Industrial Arts at Twin Cedars Community Schools in Bussey, Iowa, from 1962 to 1966. He became a high school principal for Roland Community Schools 1966 to 1969, in Roland, Iowa, then Lake Mills Community Schools 1969 to 1974, in Lake Mills, Iowa. In August 1974, he relocated to Minnesota to become the West Concord High School principal until his retirement in June 1995.
After retiring from the school district, Ray was an owner/manager of the Hardware Hank in West Concord. He was active in the West Concord Lions Club, 1975 to 1990, and Trinity Lutheran Church. He served on the West Concord City Council and was president of the West Concord Economic Development Authority.
Ray is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carol Anne Six of West Concord; daughters, Lydia Grant of Pine Island, Margaret (and Lyndon) Hudson of Belgium, Patricia Mueller of Rochester; grandchildren, Nathan (and Bobbi) Grant, and their son, Atreus; Matthew (and Danielle) Grant and their daughters, Harper and Skyla; Laura (and Christopher) Nauman; Tiffany Mueller; and Stephanie Mueller; sister, Barbara Young of Ankeny, Iowa, and her son, Brett Young.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert; and nephew, Jeffrey Young.
Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home, West Concord Chapel on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, from 4-7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church, West Concord, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston. Memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association or Trinity Lutheran Church West Concord.