Ray Lusty

Raymond L. Lusty Sr., 81, died of cancer at his Grafton home Saturday, Oct. 6.

Mr. Lusty was born in Milwaukee Feb. 12, 1937, to Raymond and Bernice Lusty.

He graduated from Boys Tech High School in 1955, before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He served in surface and underwater operations, ending his active service on the USS Greenwich Bay in 1957.

After returning home, Mr. Lusty rekindled a longtime friendship that quickly became the love of his life. On June 8, 1957, he married Audrey Laura Hoffmann.

Mr. Lusty held a number of jobs, which included being draftsman for Briggs & Stratton, police officer with Milwaukee Police Department, an international banking officer with First Wisconsin National Bank and a comptroller for the Wisconsin American Legion.

In his spare time, Mr. Lusty completed both his bachelor and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He served as president of the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, director of Germanfest, Inc., and volunteered to assemble the library for the Luxembourg American Cultural Center in Belgium.

His family said he spoke Russian, German and French and was self-taught in Polish, Hungarian and Czech.

In his later years, Mr. Lusty helped his grandchildren study calculus, biology and Korean.

Mr. Lusty is survived by wife, Audrey of Grafton, sons Raymond Jr. of Mequon, Eric (Louise) of Grafton and Randall (Lori) of Belgium; brother Deryl (Theresa) of Carson, Wash; sisters-in-law Rita (Bobby) Nakadaira of California and Linda (Carl) Schultz of Pewaukee.

He is further survived by his grandchildren Melissa (Jerry) Wood, Anastasia, Raymond III, Alexander, Adam, Nathan and Danielle, and six great-grandchildren.        

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Ronald.        

A private-graveside ceremony for the family will take place at Pinelawn Cemetery, in Milwaukee.

Visitation was to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 10, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Mueller Funeral Home, Grafton.

Memorials to the donor’s charity of choice are suggested.