Obituary of Raymond Frank Predenkiewicz

Raymond Frank Predenkiewicz
Ray “Preden”, of Tucson, Arizona passed peacefully, aged 85 on August 19, 2023.  His wife of 60 years, Mary Predenkiewicz, was by his side.  He is preceded by his Mother Lillian, Father Ben and Sister Marlene.  Born on New Year’s Eve, Ray was always quick to note that “Everyone celebrates my birthday”.  After fulfilling his Army service, where he picked up a knack for cooking, Ray and Mary set out on a lifetime of adventures.  He kickstarted his varied real estate exploits by buying and remodeling a brownstone in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.  Next, they were off to Miami Beach, following a close friend from the neighborhood, but not before Ray and Mary took four months to travel Europe in 1974.  In Miami, Ray started a mechanical business servicing yachts and custom machinery across South Florida and the Caribbean.  He maintained lifelong relationships with several Florida friends and visited them often.  Along the way, Ray built and refurbished homes in Colorado, Florida, and Arizona.  His love of exploring and camping included cross country trips with Mary in the “Green Turtle” VW Bus and one infamous adventure in their “Heavy Meddle” sailboat.  After a stint as a millwright working on a New Mexico power plant, Ray and Mary settled more permanently in Tucson, Arizona in 1997.  Here, they joined Mary’s sister Midge and her husband Kiki.  Throughout his life, Ray was a skilled hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman.  They often traveled to South Dakota for bird hunts and Durango, Colorado for extended trips in their camper.  Ray was a talented electrician, builder, and fixer of just about anything.  He always offered his time to assist friends and family on their own projects.  In the Tucson area, he established a close-knit group of hunting friends and enjoyed card games several days a week.  He had a deep bond with his German Wirehaired companions Duke, Molly, Murphy, and Stella.  Ray crossed paths with folks from all walks of life and often offered opportunities to those in need so that they could better their own situations.  He was a committed mentor to several younger folks and helped many achieve the most of their lives.  A true character, his jokes, stories, companionship, and love will be deeply missed by his close friends and family.  Donations may be sent to the Tucson Humane Society in memory of Ray.