Cover photo for Raymond Oscar Kilbourn's Obituary
Raymond Oscar Kilbourn Profile Photo
1935 Raymond 2024

Raymond Oscar Kilbourn

December 19, 1935 — July 5, 2024

Olivet

Raymond Oscar Kilbourn “Poppy”, age 88, of Olivet, died on July 5, 2024. He was born on December 19, 1935 in Battle Creek, MI to George Sr. and Velma (Miller) Kilbourn. He married the love of his life, Carolyn Jane Brownell, on May 23, 1964. They just celebrated 60 wonderful years together.

Ray worked for Clark Equipment in Battle Creek for 21 years then worked at Alro Steel of Lansing until his retirement in 1996. Ray and his wife, Jane, owned Bellevue Dry Cleaners and Laundromat for 13 years. He was an avid sportsman who loved fishing and hunting, bagging his last deer at age 75. Ray served in the United States Army at the end of the Korean War from September 1954 to January 1962.

Ray is survived by his wife, Jane; daughter, Pam Bess; son, Randy (Dale Klahn) Kilbourn; grandchildren, Gerry (Brittany) Bess, Alicia (Ken) Horton, Joanna (Derek) Smith; great grandchildren, James, Brooke, Jackson, Robby, Emma and Peyton; son-in-law, Ken (Grace) Bess; special friends, Steve and Kathy Penny; siblings, Janette Robertson, Leon, Mary Jane (Paul) Niemela, Al, Leola Kilbourn, and Bill O’Neal.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Daniel, Rosa O’Neal, George Jr., Gary Lee, Bruce Robertson and Ruth Kilbourn.

Friends may call on Saturday, July 13th from 10:00 – 12:00pm at Kempf’s of Bellevue with the funeral service at 12:00pm with Steve Penny officiating. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in Bellevue. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Oaklawn Hospice, Marshall, MI. Arrangements have been entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services. Please visit https://www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guestbook, or to leave the family condolences. 

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Raymond Oscar Kilbourn, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, July 13, 2024

10:00am - 12:00 pm (Eastern time)

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Funeral Service

Saturday, July 13, 2024

12:00 - 1:00 pm (Eastern time)

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Interment

Saturday, July 13, 2024

1:00 - 1:30 pm (Eastern time)

Bellevue Riverside Cemetery

West Street, Bellevue, MI 49021

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