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Ronald E. Raikes

Born: March 11, 1943         Lincoln, Nebraska Died: September 5, 2009    Ashland, Nebraska     Funeral Service: Thursday, September 10, 2009 1:00 PM at First-Plymouth Congregational Church Lincoln, Nebraska Private Interment at Ashland Cemetery, Ashland, Nebraska Visitation: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 5:00-8:00 PM at Marcy Mortuary,  Ashland, Nebraska Memorials: Ron Raikes Learning Community Scholarship or Clear Creek Memorial Sculpture Contributions may be sent directly to:      Ron Raikes Memorial      Farmers and Merchants National Bank in c/o Mary Bohn      PO Box 217      Ashland, NE 68003

Former Nebraska State Senator Ronald Eugene Raikes, of Lincoln, died in a farming accident, September 5, 2009. He was 66 years of age. He ran a large cattle operation, a soil conservation business, and grew corn, soybeans and wheat. He was born in Lincoln and raised in Ashland, as the second of five children of Ralph and Alice Raikes, both of whom preceded him in death. He attended Ashland High School, received a Bachelor's degree in Farm Operations from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of California, Davis. He was on the faculty in agricultural economics at Iowa State University from 1970-1979 after which he returned to manage the family farm near Ashland, developing conservation practices and expanding land and cattle farming. Ron was appointed by Governor Ben Nelson to the Nebraska Unicameral as a representative of the 25th District (South East Lincoln) and served in the Nebraska Legislature from May, 1997 until 2008. He was Chair of the Education Committee for 8 years. His contributions to the Nebraska Legislature were reorganization of school district structures in the state, the development of the Douglas-Sarpy County Learning Community, passage of early childhood education legislation that led to incorporation of at risk 4 year olds in the Nebraska school finance formula, passage of the bill that led to a Constitutional Amendment and the Nebraska Birth to Three Endowments. He was a member of the Education Commission of the States and the Midwestern Higher Education Compact.

When at Iowa State, he was President of FarmHouse Fraternity, President of the Farm Operations Club, a member of Alpha Zeta, agricultural honorary, Phi Kappa Phi, and Cardinal Key Honorary. In Nebraska, he was a member of the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board, the Nebraska Farm Business Association, the Nebraska Agricultural Relations Council, the Nebraska Land Improvement Contractors Association, and the Agricultural Builders of Nebraska.

Ron was married to Helen Raikes, and proud father of three children, Heather Suzanne Raikes, married to Patrick Neill, Hilary Abigail (Abbie) Raikes, married to Adam Gouttierre, and Justin Carter Raikes, all of Seattle, and three grandchildren, Lucia Neill, Xavier and Theo Gouttierre. He is survived by his brother, Jeff Raikes married to Tricia, of Seattle and sisters, Ann Miller, of New York, NY, Susan Raikes, of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Mary Jo Raikes, of Bellingham, WA; nieces and nephews Hannah Miller, Ezra Sugar, Sarah Hirsch, Jessica Hirsch, Michaela Raikes, Nathan Hirsch, Connor Raikes and Gillian Raikes, brothers and sisters in-law; Reg and Mary Clause, Jefferson, IA, Royal and Bunny Holz and Howard and Mary Ellen Holz of Grand Junction, IA and John and Elaine Holz of Perry, IA and many nieces and nephews. z

Preceded in death by parents, Ralph and Alice Raikes.