Raymond Melvin Finberg

On the evening of April 16, 2020, Raymond Melvin Finberg died in a single car accident near his home at the age of 86. Ray was born to Selmer and Annie Del Finberg in 1933. He graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 1952 and was drafted into the Army in 1954. There he went to school to be a helicopter mechanic, served in the Combat Engineers Motor Pool and spent time aboard ship at Point Barrow, Alaska within the Arctic Circle. Ray worked as an automotive mechanic for a number of garages around the Grand Rapids area until he went to work for Blandin Paper Company, retiring after 25 years there in 1985. He spent the remaining 35 years doing as he pleased. Ray loved old cars and old snowmobiles and collected and restored many of them. Some of his vintage sleds are in museums today. He also had a great interest in exploring his Norwegian ancestry. Ray was kind and helped out a lot of people in his lifetime. He always had a yard full of critters and birds that he kept fed. He longed to be able to play a musical instrument and tried very hard over the years to learn. He amassed an impressive array of stringed instruments along the way.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents, his 2 brothers, Carl and Gene Finberg, sister Marjorie (Doug) Mueller, his first wife and mother of his children Caroline, his long-time special friend Mary Ann Winter and his beloved pug Lulu (aka “Tweetie”).

He is survived by his sons Steven Finberg of Hill City, MN, Tim Finberg of Grand Rapids, MN, daughter Laura (Thomas) Carey of Warba, MN, 4 granddaughters, 6 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A private family graveside service was held on April 23rd, 2020 at Calvary Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Pastor Art Schoonmaker presiding. A larger public gathering in celebration of Ray’s life will take place at a later date.

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