Raymond Cochlin

Memorial Services for Raymond J. Cochlin, of Albert Lea, will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, November  16, at St. Theodore Catholic Church, Albert  Lea. The Reverend Kurt Farrell will officiate.   Private interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Newry Township.  Military honors will be accorded by Albert Lea Veteran’s Organizations. Friends may visit with family from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church. Ray died on Saturday, November 11, 2017,  at Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea.  He was 87. He had the joy of seeing all of his family and many of his friends in his last days. He was born on March 5, 1930, in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota,  the son of  Dennis and Sarah (Cashman) Cochlin. After graduating  from Blooming Prairie High School,   Ray enlisted in the US Navy where he served our country in the Korean Conflict for more than 4 years before his honorable discharge. On August 6, 1955, Ray married Rosalie T. Caron at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Newry. They made their home in Albert Lea, building a home in the old Stable’s area, where they lived for more than 50 years.   Ray received plumbing training while in the service, he served as a journeyman and then owned and operated Ray’s Plumbing for several years before retiring in 1993. For Ray, family always came first, he was always there standing beside them thru all the joys and trials in life’s journey.  He adored his grandchildren and great grandchildren and was a big supporter of the activities they participated in. Always active, Ray enjoyed golfing, bowling, long walks,  a good game of cribbage, following the Minnesota  Twins, Vikings and Lynx, and being a part of the daily HyVee  “Breakfast Club” for more than 20 years. He as a member of St. Theodore's Catholic Church, and the American Legion Leo Carey Post #56 for more than 60 years.  Over the years he was proud to have been a very generous donor for the American Red Cross Blood Drives. He is survived by three children:  Bill Cochlin of Woodbury, MN, Kathy (Steve) Jensen of West Des Moines, Iowa, Rich (Diana) Cochlin of Savage, MN; grandchildren: Erin (Adam)  Koger of Woodbury, MN, Eric Cochlin of Albert Lea,  Andrew (LeAnn)  Jensen of Grimes, Iowa, , Michelle (Daniel) Engstrom, of Bettendorf, IA, Jonathan Jensen of Kansas City, MO,  Sean Cochlin of Savage, MN  and Tia Cochlin of Chicago, IL; great grandchildren: Kennedy and Madden Koger and Hudson Engstrom; sister-in-law Deloris Caron of Owatonna, MN; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Rosalie, son Dennis and son Robert Joseph in infancy.Memorials suggested to Mayo Clinic Health System Hospice, St. Theodore Catholic Church, or charity of choice.