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June Ann Ray was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She left this world after a courageous battle on March 7, 2024 at the age of 79.
She was born to Donald and Ruth (Muzzy) Zwemke on June 2,1944 in Marshalltown, Iowa where she grew up and graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1962. Later on she attended Buena Vista University where she earned her B.A. in psychology. She worked as a substance abuse counselor and later substituted in many school districts as she loved working with children.
She married her high school sweetheart William Russell McKibben in the spring of 1967. Together they had two daughters Kelly and Polly. After losing her husband in the Vietnam War, June later married Roland Wilson Ray and together they had one son Zachary.
June loved being surrounded by nature and flourished as a gardener and floral designer. One could also find her exploring on the bike trails finding the beauty in flowers, sunrises, sunsets, and butterflies. She loved being in love with her children and grandchildren and being a part of their lives. She had a special place in her heart for the pets in her life which brought her great joy. June had a quiet way about her but had a wonderful sense of humor and always thought of others before herself.
June is survived by and will be dearly missed by Kelly & Jon Lindaman of Ankeny, Iowa, Polly & Dan (McKibben) Rodgers of Denver, Colorado, and Zachary & Brooke Ray of Clayton, Missouri. Additionally, she is survived by her grandchildren Alex & Brennen Eaton of Clive, Iowa, Madeline and Colin Rodgers of Denver, Colorado, Gracie and Asher Lindaman of Ankeny, Iowa, Wilson, Katherine, and Elizabeth Ray of Clayton, Missouri. She is also survived by her sisters and brothers: Jan Munger of Tubac, Arizona, Ray (Judy) Zwemke of Hoschton,Georgia, Reginald (Kathy) Zwemke of Marshalltown, Iowa, Ronald (Suzi) Zwemke of Lafayette, Colorado, and Joanie (Dan) Russell of Kellogg, Iowa. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and her dear friend Myra Thompson.
In her death she is rejoined with William McKibben, Donald and Ruth (Muzzy) Zwemke, Richard Zwemke, and Russell & Bernice McKibben.
The family will have a private memorial service and a celebration of life will be held on June 1, 2024, the week-end June would have turned 80 years old. Details will be announced later.
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Denise Stewart
I'm so sorry to hear of June's passing. She and Judi were my good friends during junior high and high school. I remember a sleepover at June's one time and we had to get up early in the morning to deliver newspapers. We had to deliver on the levy and I remember feeling very uneasy in that neighborhood so early in the morning. I don't recall if it was her paper route or if we she was substituting for one of her brothers. We all had such fun times in junior high and high school. She will always be remembered with fondness.
Richard Underkofler (St. Mary's 62)
When someone you've loved becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. June and Bill McKibben touched our lives and will stay with us forever.
Richard Stanley
June, such a vibrant person who was so outgoing, smart, had a wonderful quirky sense of humor I so much appreciated, and was an excellent dancer, too- which always is near the top of my list when assessing a person's talents. I will always remember sharing master/mistress of ceremony duties with her for the 1992 reunion, if the date I remember is correct.(She could still wear her original high school cheerleading outfit then. Obviously, she had really kept slim and trim).
We hadn't had a converstion in years and so the "prep time" with her was so special. Her work in drug abuse counseling and the needs in that area in Marshalltown then really educted me.Talk about making a differnce and serving your community!!!
On a lighter note, I always envision her with that most magnificent beehive hairdo that she had for awhile in high school. Nobody elses's even came CLOSE to matching the extraordinary height she acheived.
What a very good soul she was, for sure.
Elwood Grabenbauer (Grabenbauer)
It's sad to hear about our passing classmates. There are many memories of them all. May she rest in eternal peace.
Susan Abrahamson (Vaughn Harris)
June and I were cheerleaders together when I was a junior and she a senior. I remember her as a nice, sweet person. I still have the newspaper clipping of the story in the T-R with her two young girls after Bill was killed. So sad, but glad she was able to rebuild her life and do so much good for her community.
Jane Middleton
RIP June. I remember you as being very sweet. A cheerleader too. You and Bill are joined again.
Jane Middleton
Carol Cunningham (Robertson)
June really enjoyed life. She was playful and attentive to people. Carol Robertson
Sara Neve (Kurth)
Tom & I have a lot of combined memories of June beginning in high school with June cheering for the sports that Tom participated in. Tom was also a friend of Bill’s in high school. They played football together and enjoyed playing cards at Bill’s house on the corner of 18th Ave & Elder Dr. June & Bill got married about the same that Tom & I did. We started having kids & our daughters became friends. Tom coached the girls, Polly, Kelly, & our daughter, Tracy, in AAU basketball for several years where he became friends with June’s daughters. Tom helped chaperone a slumber party where Bill’s daughter, Polly, quizzed him about Bill because she wanted to know more about her Dad. Tom was also a friend of June’s second husband, Ray. He was acquainted with their son, Zach, who became an orthopedic surgeon in St. Louis. Zach was impressive as a young person when he helped his dad shingle roofs. Several of his biking buddies contacted Zach for treatment & were impressed. June’s children have done well in life. June was a good person as proven by her children. She will be missed by her entire family.
Stan Hustad
I was deeply moved by the story of June and her life and of the comment that followed. My life like most of yours has had many twists and turns and ups and downs in many difficulties. Most of my career has been as a teacher, business performance coach, and as a broadcaster and I was deeply moved that I did a podcast about her story, and Bill. June was truly a person who turned a great tragedy into a transformation and into a life well lived. Blessings on her and her memory and her family. If you wish here is a link to the podcast I did posted on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/UEKmQ2XbIEk
Thanks
Stan Hustad
Joan Wolfe (Wolfe)
It has saddened me to hear of our classmates passing. June and I were cheerleaders together before I moved to Denver my Senior year. She was clearly a very good soul and friend during those years. I have always admired how she just kept plugging along after loseing Bill and for ever after that. I always thought of her as one of the good ones.
There was sometrhing I alwas wanted to say to the claqss of "62". Although I have been a total failure responding I have kept up with the Class. I have always been impresssed by everyone's achievements and what good people you all became. You are a very impressive group and I have always been proud I got to spend most of my school years with you. I am " old " enough now to know how lucky I was.
I miss Johnny's birthday wishes too.