Raymond “Ray” Joseph Anecki, age 87 of Madison, passed away peacefully with his family near on April 16, 2026.

Ray was born in Superior, WI on June 9, 1938. He was the son of Charles and Pauline (Orlaski) Anecki. Upon graduating from Central High School in 1956, Ray enlisted and served his country proudly for four years in the Navy and the Marine Corps as a Hospital Corpsman. During that time he discovered the love of his life, Dorothy ‘Dee’ Czuprynski. They married on June 9, 1962, in Chicago, IL.

Ray moved to Madison and worked for Mendota Mental Health and then Central Wisconsin Center for a total of 37 years.

He played slow-pitch softball in his younger days, and for the love of the game he decided to umpire for an additional 32 years – primarily in the small towns of Dane and Lodi. He developed many friendships with players and other umpires.

Ray was an avid stamp collector and continued that hobby up through his final days.

He followed the Packers and all UW sports. He had season tickets to UW men’s hockey starting in the late 1970’s (and later to women’s hockey) and would alternate taking his two daughters to the Friday night games.

Dad was a truly a family man, showing his love quietly and by example. He enjoyed playing cribbage, Crazy-8’s, and air-hockey with his daughters, taking the family on Sunday drives in the country and quiet vacations near Wisconsin Dells. He had an appreciation for traveling -- especially if he didn’t have to plan the trip or do the driving. As the family grew, he loved spending time with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was fond of spending time with the various families’ pets – and had a tropical fish collection for many years.

Ray had a deep Catholic faith and again showed us all by example – with the family being charter members of Saint Peter in Madison.

Ray is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dee; daughters Mary Jo (David) Bobholz and Donna (Phil) Wiedenbeck; grandsons Mitchell (Kaylor), Austin, and Ross Wiedenbeck; brother John Anecki and sister-in-law LaVerne Braun; great-grandchildren Holly Mae and Shepherd Raymond Wiedenbeck; many beloved nephews, nieces, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law Lou Ann Anecki, and brother-in-law Bernard Braun, Sr.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at St. Peter Catholic Church, 5001 North Sherman Avenue, Madison, WI. A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. Entombment will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery

Many thanks to Agrace Hospice - especially Rebecca and Grace.

To view Ray’s obituary, or to leave a memory, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Raymond Anecki

June 09, 1938 - April 16, 2026

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