Posted: 5/14/03

Sign painter Ray Steltzner dies

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Ray Steltzner never stopped working ó not during decades of work as a carpenter or a lifetime of work as a sign painter.

When he turned 90 a year ago, Steltzner, although long retired from his career work, still enjoyed painting signs.

Steltzner, who died on May 6 just five days shy of his 91st birthday, still had projects in the works, said his daughter, Mavis Nelson of Stacy.

ìHe was always busy,î said Myles Giese of Wyoming, a friend of Steltznerís for the past half century. The two hunted and fished together and spent much time together socially and through the Methodist Church in Wyoming.

ìRay was a very good guy, liked by almost everyone,î Giese said of his friend.

Steltzner is remembered locally for the thousands of signs he painted throughout the area, Giese said.

He painted on an almost full-time basis from 1975 on and did the sign painting on a part-time basis and for his regular work prior to 1975.

He was born in Rice Lake, WI, on May 11, 1912. Steltzner and his late wife, Doris, moved to a home here on Clear Lake in 1946.

The move to Forest Lake came after World War II. During the war, Steltzner was a National Guard sergeant. For a year during the war, he worked on the Alaska Highway project painting signs along the highway in Alaska.

During his work career, Steltzner was employed by JC Penny stores in Crookston and Rice Lake. He was a float builder for Gordon Display in the Twin Cities and also spent six years with Thompson Lightning Rod Corp installing lightning rods.

He was a commercial carpenter for Kraus-Anderson for many years.

ìHe was a carpenter and cabinet maker,î Giese said. ìThat (sign painting) was a hobby to start with.î

Giese said his friend would come home from his regular job and spend evening and weekend time working on sign contracts.

He painted many signs for real estate companies in the Forest Lake area. ìThat was probably his biggest business area,î Giese said.

Giese said Steltzner was a skilled painter because of a steady hand and a good eye for size proportion.

Two of his recent projects, Giese said, are the signs at the Methodist Cemetery in Wyoming and a parking sign at the new church building.

Funeral Details

A funeral service for Raymond C. Steltzner was Friday, May 9 at Wyoming United Methodist Church. Interment was at the church cemetery.

He is survived by two daughters, Mavis (Robert) Nelson, and Virginia (Douglas) Anderson; seven grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one brother, August Norman Steltzner; three sisters, Leona Frommander, Lorraine Lang-land and Theresa McManus; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; three brothers and four sisters.

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