Tributes

Raymond Leroy Peka (80) of Fife Lake, Michigan passed away on March 12, 2026, at a nursing home in Romeo after spending an afternoon with his niece and time with an old friend and his favorite son in law. Raymond (Ray, Butch) was born in Little Falls, Minnesota on August 7, 1945, to the late Raymond F. Peka and Eleanore D. Oldakowski. During his childhood, the family moved to Roseville, Michigan where he grew up. Ray was married to the love of his life for almost 60 years. Mary Elizabeth Sherrill (Peka) passed away in September of 2024. Ray served in the U.S. Air Force, got stationed in Marquette, toured in Thailand, went to Vietnam, and worked as a helicopter mechanic. After his two enlistments, he was a truck driver for many years until he started his own home-remodeling company. He retired downstate in 2008. The couple then moved up north to spend summers near Ray’s youngest sister Patti’s place. They wintered in Florida, where he volunteered at Sun N Fun Aerospace Flight School in Lakeland. Ray was part of the maintenance team there. His main job was to exterminate all the ants, which gave him the nickname of “Ant Man.” Ray lived a good life by traveling and taking family trips between Michigan and Minnesota. “Butch” and Mary loved visiting Aruba, but most of all, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, hosting reunions, building campfires, and chopping wood at his retirement home in Fife Lake, where they were members of the Catholic church. Butch is survived by his three children, John D. Peka (Melissa), Brian J. Peka, and Cynthia D. Brunk (Robert); five grandchildren, Raymond (Kristin), AJ, Kourtney (Alex), Evelyn, and Zach; six great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and poodle, Max. Butch is predeceased by his sisters, Jane (Jan) Dine, Lois Jovanov, and Patricia (Patti) Dooley; nephew, Steven Kenward and great nephew, Jason Kenward. Cremation services have been entrusted to Wolfe-O’Neill Funeral Home in Kalkaska. Memorial contributions can be made to Kalkaska County Commission on Aging, or St. Aloysius Church. Please go to www.wolfeoneill.com/obituaries to visit Raymond’s tribute page and share a memory with his loved ones. A small, private service will be held at a later date.,

Tributes

Raymond LeRoy Peka

August 7, 1945 - March 12, 2026