Raymond Konkel

Raymond Konkel, age 63, of Antioch, IL. died May 9, 2020. He was born on April 28, 1957 in Chicago, IL. to the late Donald and Joan (Brown) Konkel. Father of Steven Konkel, Jerald (Mersadies) Konkel and Lori Konkel. Grandfather to Trent Konkel. Brother to Diane (Bruce) Hubbard, Darlene (the late George) Turpin and the late Leroy Konkel (Lisa). Uncle to Jason DesBiens (Berenice) and several other nephews and nieces.

During his teenage years Raymond Konkel served in the United States Army, he eventually left the military to pursue his dream of writing music. He also had an interest in antique cars and motorcycles. During his youth he would pull wheelies on his motorcycles. He even knew how to ride a unicycle, which he would use to ride all over his hometown of Antioch, Illinois.

While living in Utah as a young man, he worked as a carpenter building homes with his father. During his times living in Utah he also enjoyed going dinosaur bone hunting with family and friends. He had multiple petrified and gem quality dinosaur bones that he kept for his collection. Leaving Utah, he brought his carpentry skills back to Illinois where he worked on houses for a realtor. Eventually, he found a job at a water treatment company working with his sister Diane, nephew Jason, and periodically employing his son Jerald to work alongside him as well. Ray was a frequent customer at Bobby’s Lakeside Restaurant in Antioch, IL. He loved going there every morning for breakfast and coffee and hanging out with some of his best friends; Paul and Bobby.

Ray loved to play the guitar and write his own songs. Some of his music has been played on local radio stations where he had lived.  Ray had built multiple personal recording studios throughout his life, with professional grade equipment. He wrote his own music, played all his own instruments, and even sang his own lyrics. He and his brother Lee, who also wrote music, would share songs and music ideas all the time. They would even share recording equipment at times; shipping it back and forth through the mail.

Ray always loved to make people laugh by telling jokes, making witty comments, and doing his famous Popeye impersonation. He got most of his inspiration from his favorite comedy trio The Three Stooges. His great sense of humor, and love for The Three Stooges, was very evident in his audio comedies where he played characters based on himself, his brother Lee, his cousin Ricky, and others. 

Ray was a strong man, had an interest in martial arts, liked arm wrestling people, always liked showing off his muscles, and even got into the occasional bar fight. But throughout his life, nothing was stronger than his faith in God. Learning from his brother Lee, and reading directly from the bible himself, he became a faithful follower of Jesus. His passion for music and his love for God inspired him to write beautiful songs which honored and helped share the word of God. Ray enjoyed teaching people about Jesus wherever he went. He was a true ambassador for Christ.

During his final years, Ray moved to Florida where he lived with, and spent a lot of time with, two great friends of his. An old band member named Charlie, and a good friend named Chuck. Shortly before Ray’s death, he was on a trip back to Antioch to visit with his family and friends. But unexpected circumstances led to him moving back permanently where his final residence was in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. In the months before his passing, Ray spent a lot of time bonding with his son Jerald Konkel and daughter-in-law Mersadies. Sharing the occasional dinner together and watching movies.

Ray may not be here with us now but he will always be in our hearts. His music will continue to play long after we are all gone.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2020 at Noon (visitation starting at 11 a.m.) at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 11233 306th Ave, Wilmot, WI. There will be a remembrance lunch following the service.

In lieu of flowers, that eventually die, the family recommends purchasing a live plant at your local store or nursery instead. Having a live plant to care for will serve as a daily reminder of Ray, the eternal life he is now living in Heaven, and just how precious our time here on earth is every time we look at it.  You will be able to take the plant home with you after the service if you wish; otherwise they will go home with Jerald and his wife Mersadies to be cared for. If you would still prefer to send flowers that is okay as well. Please make arrangements to have any plants delivered to the church by 10 a.m. the morning of the service or given to Mersadies the day prior.

Online condolences and memories may be left at Haaselockwoodfhs.com or on the ‘In Memory of Raymond Konkel’ Facebook group page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/249723229596749).

The Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Home and Crematory of Twin Lakes, WI. is assisting the family.