Raymond Sylvester Powell

Raymond Sylvester Powell, age 100 of Waseca died on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at Whispering Creek in Janesville.

Raymond was born April 21st, 1926 in Blooming Grove Township to Sylvester and Florence (Bird) Powell. Raymond attended country schools in Waseca County. At a very young age he began his lifelong ambition to be a farmer and protector of the land, starting with his parents and siblings, later with his brothers, and then on his own with the help of his children.

In 1944 at the age of 18 he was drafted and joined the US Navy paratroopers. With World War II going on, he and his shipmates boarded the USS Cotoctin heading to Japan. After the war ended and his discharge in 1946, he returned home to continue farming.

On October 7th, 1948, Raymond married Joyle Ione Nelson of Meriden. They shared their vows in a candlelight service at St John’s Lutheran Church in Waseca. Together they began to make their homestead north of Waseca and continued to build up their farming operation. Besides raising crops he also raised hogs and milked cows for 53 years.

Raymond was on the Board of Directors for the Rochester Dairy Association (later AMPI) for 25 years. In 1974 he was nominated as Waseca Soil and Conservation Farmer of the year. He also served on the Waseca County Zoning Board for several years. Raymond was a lifelong member of the Waseca County Horse Thief Detective Society that was organized in 1864 in Wilton. He was also a member of the Waseca American Legion Post #228.

2011 Raymond and fellow World War II servicemen took the Honor Flight from Rochester to Washington DC to visit the memorial, Capital, White House, and Arlington National Cemetery.

Raymond is survived by 3 children, Michael (Dianne) Powell of Waseca, Patricia Powell of Onalaska, Wisconsin, and Marshall Powell of Cleveland. He is also survived by one granddaughter, Michelle Winn of Onalaska, Wisconsin.

Raymond is proceeded in death by his parents; wife, Joyle in 2007; two infant sons, Raymond Jr. and Thomas. He is also preceded in death by his brothers Eugene, Arthur and Harlan Powell; two sisters-in-law, Mona Powell and Maxine Powell; his three sisters, Margaret (Broughten) McNeil, Evelyn Wetzel, and Helen James; and brothers-in-law Mike McNeil, Warren Wetzel, Stanley Broughten and Donald James.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 5, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Third Street Chapel of Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Service in Waseca. Visitation will be held on Monday, one hour before services at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Woodville Cemetery.