"Our Son Blaine worked for Jeff and Judi at Frostwood Farms, interned at the Raymond Group, and it changed his life forever. Jeff was the firm and guiding hand to help Blaine understand that hard work, precise work, and doing the right thing were the only options in life. Blaine had the pleasure of spending significant time with Jeff on the weekends, running errands and taking Jeff for ice cream. We will always be thankful for Jeff's influence in our lives, and he will be missed. Our prayers are with Judi and the family."
In loving memory of
Jeff Raymond
March 4, 1947 - May 23, 2018
MIDDLETON
Charles Jeffrey "Jeff" Raymond, 71, died May 23, 2018 at UW Hospital due to multiple myeloma. Jeff was born on March 4, 1947 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, the oldest of Margaret Ann "Peg" (Kelly) and Charles J. "Charlie" Raymond's six children. He attended the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, where he met his future wife, Judith Ann Pero. He graduated from UD in 1969. Jeff and Judi married after her graduation from UD on June 13, 1970 in Oyster Bay, New York. They moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where he earned his Master's in Real Estate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. They started their life in Madison and raised their three children there.
Jeff and Judi created The Raymond Group and The Raymond Management Company in 1978 as a hotel development and management company. The company has grown to almost 1600 teammates and has been recognized as one of the best hotel development and management companies in the country. This success is attributed to Jeff's leadership and insisting the company focus on customer satisfaction and service. He was unrelenting and unwavering.
Jeff and Judi also created Frostwood Farms. What started with a goal of providing high quality hay for horses has evolved into an opportunity to provide jobs for kids that need work and to grow food for people that need food.
Above all else was Jeff's family. For 48 years Jeff and Judi strove for The Impossible Dream. Jeff was a beloved husband and father and a special Bapa to nine grandchildren. He taught his family many things through his words of wisdom and especially through his actions. His family will remember him fondly for his love of showing the grandchildren his hay farms and tractors and taking them on ranger rides through the fields. Jeff loved being together with the family whether it was on the Florida beaches or enjoying his backyard in the summertime. Jeff and Judi's strong family of five grew to seventeen.
Jeff is survived by his wife Judi; daughter Annie (Dirk) Bartlett and grandchildren Siena and Hunter; daughter Chrissie (Mike) Hensley, and grandchildren Gus, Francie, Raymond and Georgie; and son C.J. (Mary Eileen) Raymond, and grandchildren Maura, Tess and Charlie. Jeff was the oldest of six children and is survived by his siblings Jim (Laura) Raymond, Patty (Jerry) Muehr, Sude (Steve) Tanke, Marikaye (Bob) Schweitzer, and John (Gera) Raymond, and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at the UW Hospital and the Carbone Center, especially Dr. Walter Longo and Dr. Natalie Callandar.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison, on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. Monsignor Kenneth J. Fiedler will preside.
In honor of Jeff, and in lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to Our Lady Queen of Peace School Endowment Fund, Edgewood High School, or The Jeff Raymond Scholarship (Class of '69) at the University of Dayton, (Office of Advancement, 300 College Park, Dayton, Ohio 45469-7055).
Please share your memories.
Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434
Tributes
"I worked for Jeff 30 years ago and the life lessons Jeff taught me when I was with Raymond Management I still treasure. Most of my founding principles I learned from Jeff I utilize in my company. Details, Team, Commitment, Passion, Quality and most importantly Relationships! Even though it has been 3 decades I you always were a part of my life. Thank you! Bert Butterfield "
"Jeff was always such a gracious host for the driving community and shared his land, buildings, hazards and time for all the horse community so that we had a wonderful, and safe time whenever there. We will certainly miss him and send our condolences to Judi and the family. "
"I so enjoyed getting to know Jeff through his love of hay farming. He was kind enough to cut our hay for us at Beomor Farm. I never had to worry about the quality of my bales once he was involved. My condolences to the family. We'll miss him. "
"Years ago Jeff had our company build a very nice ranch style condo for his parents. No contract or paper work of any kind. Jeff gave his word. That was enough. He was the most honest man I ever met. Gary Gorman"
"To a great partner of 35+ years. Jeff was not only a great real estate developer, he was passionate about being an Innkeeper. He had a keen eye for quality in both his hotel properties and his team members. The hotel guest experience was always top of mind. He would never dodge around issues; he was direct and firm in his search for excellence . His family always came first and his commitment to his team was unwavering. He will be missed. Dave Lenz. NCG"
" I was out trimming the fence lines and mowing yesterday. Looking up the east fence line, where did our farm end and his start? It was hard to tell. Jeff liked white wood fences so when we replaced fences, we matched his. We mowed our shared grass trails to the same height and both planted more trees. He put in a gate garden and we did as well. During the driving event when hundreds of guests were here, no one knew what he did and what we did, and it made no difference as Jeff and we did it together. He always gave the welcome Friday night before the competition and it came from his heart. His sense of hospitality and joy in bringing drivers and horses together was natural and unaffected. He wanted to do this for our driving community just as he wanted to provide summer jobs to students and grow good hay for horses. In his blood was a rural sense of neighborliness, community and care. In Fitchburg you knew which land was his by looking at it. No sign was necessary. You saw the trimmed trees, the lack of invasives, the grass verges and in many places, the neat four board white fence. Jeff was ?the good steward? to all things, be they family, friends, guests or the land. We shall miss him deeply, miss his kindness, sense of humor and enthusiasm for large tractors, complicated hay machinery and a shared propensity to take out the riding mower to just look at the land. The red barn he saved will be with us for a long time, taken down timber by timber and re-erected at Frostwood Farm to serve as our hospitality center. A great effort to save something of rural value, to save a common memory, to preserve a mark upon the land. He was truly a farmer in that deep love of the land. Let the land also remember him. John and Betsy Freiburger "
"My deepest condolences to Judi, Annie, Chrissie and C.J., and the rest of your magnificent family (nine grandchildren - wow!). Some of my favorite college memories involve your family. Jeff was extraordinarily kind, gave me a job, became a mentor, and welcomed me into your home with loads of babysitting. I've thought of you all so much over the years. With love, Christine Buckley"
"Jeff was a living example of how to invest in people. He taught us all the importance of taking care of our family, our team mates , our guests and those in need, He was a mentor to many and I for one will never forget the lessons learned along with his wonderful wit. He will be missed, Jonathan Bogatay NCG"
"My sincere condolences to the family of Jeff Raymond. May you find comfort in your loving memories, and in God's promise to soon 'swallow up death forever" and "wipe away the tears from all faces." (Isaiah 25;8) With deepest sympathy, "