Raymond Paul Serocka

The Reverend Raymond Paul Serocka of Port Clinton, Ohio passed from this life and was welcomed into the loving arms of Jesus Christ on Sunday, December 5, 2021. Pastor Ray was born to Paul and Kathryn (Guist) Serocka in Gary, Indiana on April 17, 1936. After graduating from Tolliston High School, Pastor Ray earned his Bachelors Degree from Wittenberg College in Springfield, Ohio, He continued his education and graduated from Hamma Divinity School in Springfield in 1961. While in Wittenberg, Pastor Ray met Charlotte Glover and they were married on August 22, 1959, with whom he had 3 daughters. Pastor Ray was ordained in Wartburg Synod at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Racine, Wisconsin on June 11, 1961. Two years later, Pastor Ray and Charlotte returned to Springfield and he earned a Masters of Sacred Theology from Hamma Divinity School. Pastor Ray served at Casstown Lutheran in Casstown, Ohio; Christ the King in Centerville, Ohio; Messiah in Toledo, Ohio; Glenwood in Toledo, Ohio; and First St. Mark’s in Oregon, Ohio. He was the Associate Interim at Christ Lutheran in Las Vegas, Nevada and Visitation Interim at St. John’s in Oak Harbor, Ohio. This year marked Pastor Ray’s 60th years of ordination. He had a great passion for his ministry and enjoyed serving the church and others. Pastor Ray enjoyed pitching in a softball league, racketball, golf, bowling, jogging, growing tomatoes & cucumbers and watching the Chicago Bears and Cubs on TV. Pastor Ray married Rosalie Bacome Powers, another Wittenberg graduate in 1996. They lived in Las Vegas until 2003. Together, they played golf, visited many Nationial Parks and attended numerous Las Vegas shows. They then wintered in Sarasota, Florida, relaxed at the Port Clinton home in the summer, and enjoyed numerous travels abroad. Pastor Ray is survived by his wife, Rosalie; daughters, Valerie (Fritz) Pioch, Cynthia (Chris) Gedert, and Bridget (Eric) Peerless; stepsons, David (Jennifer) Powers and Douglas Powers; grandchildren, Emily (Jim) Baumgartner, Joshua Gedert, Lance (Kirsten) Pioch, and Charlotte and Sophie Peerless; great-grandson, Alasdair Pioch; step-grandchildren, Camryn Powers and Ian Powers; sister, Linda Brown; sister-in-law, Joyce Oehmler; brother-in-law, James Bacome; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Charlotte (Glover); and sister, Jacqueline (Serocka) Hering. Visitation of Pastor Ray will be held on Friday, December 10, 2021 from 10-11 a.m. at the Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home, 216 Washington Street, Port Clinton, Ohio; Funeral Services will follow visitation, beginning at 11 a.m. The Rev. Eric Wogen. Pastor Ray’s close friend and colleague in Christ, will be officiating. Burial will be private at Rose Hill Burial Park in Springfield, Ohio. There will also be a celebration of Life Open House at the Waterside Maumee Clubhouse, 7062 Longwater Drive, Maumee, Ohio on Sunday, January 16, 2022 from 12-3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family would like you to consider donations to the American Heart Association. To send a memory or online condolence to Pastor Ray’s family, please visit: www.walkerfuneralhomes.com The family wish to thank caregivers Jennifer Case and Rebecca Lance for their gentle and loving care of Pastor Ray.