Raymond Stanley Free

Raymond Stanley Free, 79, of Norwalk, Iowa, passed away on July 20^th, 2026, at his home in Norwalk, IA.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 23^rd starting at 5PM at Sunset Memorial Chapel, 7601 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA 50321. A Funeral Service will take place the following day at Norwalk United Methodist Church, 1100 Gordon Avenue, Norwalk, IA 50211, at 10AM.  Following the burial with Military Honors at Sunset Memorial Gardens, a luncheon will be held back at Norwalk United Methodist Church.  All friends and family are welcome to attend and celebrate his life.

He was born on June 18, 1947, in Des Moines, to Stanley Eugene and Helen Darlene Free. He grew up on the south side and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1965. He then went into the service after high school and served in Vietnam before coming home.  Raymond dedicated 30 years to his career as a steel worker at Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel and 5 years at KVI before retiring. He built a life anchored in faith, hard work and family.

Beyond his career, Raymond was a man of passion for the outdoors, sports and spending time with his family.  He will be deeply remembered for his humor, love and kindness.  He loved fishing, which not only did he pass it on to his daughters, but his grandchildren as well.  He went on many fishing and camping trips with his family, got his daughters involved in sports as well as coaching them for many years.

He started dating Susan in 1965, a year before going into the Army and heading to Vietnam, coming home June 30, 1968. He served his country and earned many medals, including sharp shooting.  Once home, he married his beloved wife July 20, 1968.

Through his illness he kept his faith and humor.  He will be dearly missed for his pranks, humor, and kindness he gave to everyone. 

He is survived by his wife, Susan Kay Free of 58 years, his daughters; Tisha Nassar, and Karie Goheen (Brad), 5 grandchildren; Jeffrey Grange, Tyler Grange (Danielle), Connor Grange, Logan Goheen and Sydney Goheen, 8 great grandchildren, his sister, Carolyn DeVries and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Helen Free, his brother, Dean Free and sisters Tamara Rogers and Terry McGinnis.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Raymond’s honor to The Pink Tractor Foundation.

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.