West Branch, Iowa Raymond C. Pedersen, 89, died Wednesday April 6, 2011 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. A memorial service will be held at 2:00PM on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch. A memorial fund has been established. Raymond was born August 22, 1921 on a farm north of West Branch the son of Anders and Constance Pedersen. He attended West Branch School where he excelled in football and basketball receiving an athletic award in his senior year. In 1943 he was united in marriage to Frances “Tae” Fell and they farmed their entire married life in the community. Ray loved farming, his horses and his Herefords. He was a gentle man and had an equally gentle sense of humor. Following his retirement from farming Ray worked at the University of Iowa for 11 years maintaining anesthesiology equipment. He was highly appreciated and well thought of. Upon his retirement from the University Hospital Ray and Tae finally went to Hawaii for a belated honeymoon with Tae’s sister Ann and her husband Roy Barlow. In 2003 Ray and Tae celebrated 60 golden years together with a large family gathering in La Jolla, California. He is survived by his wife Tae, dog Maggie, Daughter: Joyce (Jim) Harper of Sterling, Illinois and many grandchildren. One brother Leslie Pederson of West Branch. He was preceded in death by his parents, Brother Norman, Sister Shirley and son Jerry.