Raymond Alan Overson

Raymond Alan Overson, 81, of Grimes, Iowa, passed away on May 26, 2026, at the Veterans Affairs Community Living Center Hospice in Des Moines, IA. A joint visitation for Raymond and his son, Jeffrey (who passed away on February 23, 2026), will be held at 9:30 AM on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Lincoln Heights Lutheran Church (1217 Watrous Ave, Des Moines, IA). The joint funeral service will follow at 10:30 AM. A committal service with full military honors for Ray will take place at 12:30 PM at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery (34024 Veterans Memorial Drive, Van Meter, IA).

Ray was born on January 6, 1945, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and grew up on a nearby farm—an upbringing that provided lots of stories for his family. He graduated from De Soto High School in 1963 and served in the US Army from 1965 to 1967. Upon returning home from Vietnam, he began dating Gloria Jean Schlicht, and they were married in Stoddard, Wisconsin, on May 10, 1969. 

He spent his career as a Machinist and CAD Technician at several manufacturing companies in Wisconsin and Iowa, including John Deere, Burlington Northern-Santa Fe, and Champion Spark Plugs. Following his retirement in 2012, Ray and Gloria moved to Grimes, Iowa, to be near family. He was a member of the VFW in Waukee and the American Legion in Grimes. 

Ray was a skilled woodworker who took great satisfaction in building things by hand. He was a talented handyman as well—he could fix anything! He enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, and fishing with his grandson. He also cherished attending his grandchildren’s school and sporting events; a particularly special tradition was the annual Veterans Day Breakfast at their elementary school. 

In his later years, he found peace sitting by his window, keeping an eye on the pond and various wildlife. Faith remained central to his life as a longtime member of Lincoln Heights Lutheran Church in Des Moines. 

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gloria; his daughter, Jeannie Braaten, and her husband, Jeffrey; his grandchildren, Calvin, Molly, and Aubrey Braaten; his sisters, Lorraine (Harry) Davidson and Marjorie Helgeson; his brother, Dennis (Nancy) Overson; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Jeffrey Overson, and his parents, Thurman and Mae Overson. Ray had a wonderful laugh and a kind smile, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A special thank you to Pastor Pfeifer for the many visits during Ray’s illness, which brought him great comfort. We would also like to thank the staff at Every Step, Kavanagh House and the VA CLC for their wonderful care of Ray.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the VFW, American Legion, or Lincoln Heights Lutheran Church