Date of death: 11/21/2020
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1958
Father Raymond Richard Stratman, 88, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, November 21, 2020 at Taylor Manor Nursing Home in Versailles, Kentucky. He was born May 25, 1932 in Covington, Kentucky, son of the late Robert J. and Florence Huesman Stratman. Father Ray spent his elementary years at Holy Cross and Blessed Sacrament, secondary, College at Saint Meinrad Minor Seminary, Indiana, Philosophy at Saint Meinrad Major Seminary, Indiana, and studied Theology at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Ireland. He was ordained to the transitional diaconate in Maynooth, Ireland in September 1957 by the Most Rev. Bishop Joseph Dunne, ordained into the priesthood at the Cathedral Basilica, Covington, Kentucky on June 28, 1958 by the Most Rev. Bishop William T. Mulloy.
Some of Father Ray’s many beloved assignments included in 1958 associate at St. Augustine Church, Covington and Covington Latin School. In 1962 associate at Blessed Sacrament Church, Ft. Mitchell. Full time faculty at Covington Latin High School in 1968. In 1969 associate at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Newport and part time faculty at Covington Latin School. In 1970 faculty at Brossart High School, Alexandria. In 1971 associate at St. Pius X Church, Edgewood. In 1974 Dean of Men at St. Pius X Seminary, Erlanger, and Director of Vocations and Chaplin at Northern Kentucky Serra. 1976 Chaplin at St. Charles Nursing Home, Covington. 1978 Pastor of St. Aloysius Church, Covington, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Spiritual Director in 1979. In 1983 Pastor of St. Mark Church, Richmond. University of Notre Dame, IN, Sabbatical in 1990. In 1990 Pastor of St. Leo Church, Versailles. Associate Vocation Director in 1996 and Spiritual Advisor for Diocesan Cursillo Movement from 1997 till 2000. Vicar for Retired Priest of the Diocese from 1997 till 2000. 2014 Chaplain at Taylor Manor Nursing Home, Versailles. 2017 was his final assignment at Cathedral Christ the King Church.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Robert Stratman. Father Ray will be lovingly remembered by his sister-in-law Bethany Stratman, Cincinnati, OH, and nieces and nephews, Patricia (Ed) Chojnicki, Norman, OK, Raymond Stratman, Cincinnati, OH, Mary Ann Stratman, Yakima, WA, Thomas (Kim) Stratman, San Antonio, FL , Paul (Elizabeth) Stratman, Cincinnati, OH, Richard (Leslie) Stratman, Cincinnati, OH, Robert Stratman, Cincinnati, OH and several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews, along with a host of Catholic congregations across Kentucky who mourn his passing.