Ray Dominick

Ray Dominick of Des Moines died at home on March 26, 2026. He was 94. Born in LeMars to Leo and Irene Dominick in 1931, Ray was the 5th of 6 children. After graduating from LeMars High School in 1949, he began a life-long career in the printing industry. He was employed by newspapers, including the Sioux City Journal and the Des Moines Register, before working for Principal Financial Group for 36 years.

Ray met Marlene Struthers in 1958 and they married at The Little Brown Church in the Vale the following year. They spent their honeymoon at the American Bowling Congress in St. Louis. In fact, Ray was one of the best bowlers in Des Moines in the 1950s and 60s. His other passions included genealogy, history, astronomy, and traveling. He loved horse races, was an exceptional handicapper and proudly taught his kids and grandkids how to best predict the outcome of a race. He wrote hundreds of letters to the editor that were published and he kept in bound notebooks. He also wrote hundreds of “Just a thought about…” essays with titles including “inequities in the Civil War draft,” “the privileged are back in control,” and “I’m 77 years old today.”

Ray rode his bicycle until he was 90 years old, logging about 80,000 miles over his life — a distance equivalent to more than three times around Earth.

Ray is survived by his wife Marlene, son Brian (Khristy), daughter Andie (Doug Wolfe), grandchildren Jacob Wolfe (Veronica), Jordan Wolfe, Bailey Wolfe and John Dominick, great granddaughter Phoebe Wolfe, his sister Bev Harmelink and many nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends. Ray was preceded in death by, as he said, “just about everyone.” That included siblings and his daughter Denise.

A loving thank you to Dr. Robert Callahan at Mercy Franklin and Wesley Life Hospice for all the care, services and compassion focused on helping Ray and our family.

Written condolences can be shared with the family via mail or www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com. Any memorial contributions can be directed to Ellipsis (formerly Youth Homes of Mid-America), Wesley Life Hospice or any charity serving people in need. My dad would also request honoring him by tipping restaurant servers generously.

According to Ray’s written wishes, he did not want any services after his death. He did, however, write his own obituary. Here is an excerpt:
“Please don’t mourn my death. Just celebrate the wonders of Nature. I want to leave you with this one thought: be nice to each other. Enjoy the rest of your journey through life. And now and then think about the wonderful enigma we are all a part of. Now I’ll say goodbye until our spirits get together in another dimension.”

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