Raymond John Brantner

Raymond John Brantner, born on September 19, 1934, to John and Amelia (Kohlman) Brantner in the Town of Albany, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2025 at the age of 91 at Hillview Senior Living in Mondovi, with his loving family at his bedside.

Raymond lived a life deeply rooted in the land, dedicating himself to farming and running the family homestead until 1991. Known for his stubborn determination and hardworking spirit, Raymond was a guiding force for his family, continuing to provide opinions and recommendations even after he passed the physical duties of the farm to the next generation. One of the more difficult and defining moments of his later years came with the introduction of automation and technology into farming.

Raymond was married to Carol Risler on September 23, 1958, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rock Falls, Wisconsin, where he remained a faithful parishioner throughout his life. Their family included their children: Rosemary (Glenn) Berger, Joe Brantner, Judy Madison, Susan (Chad) Yatzeck, Chuck (Angel) Brantner, and Josh Brantner. Raymond is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends who will cherish his memory.

Raymond loved playing cards and had a particular fondness for beer, often finding humor in his preference for the cheapest varieties. He liked to raise popcorn and shelled it himself. In his younger years he found joy in trapping gophers, even preserving one as a mounted trophy. In more recent times, he loved to go on local road trips to check out the crops and check in on his sons in the fields to make sure they were doing things right. These trips often ended with stopping for ice cream, usually his beloved maple nut.

Later in his years, with wooden walking sticks in each hand Raymond loved to walk around the farm buildings, always checking to see what new machinery the boys had purchased so he could drill them at the supper table. He loved his Monday night popcorn! He even came to like pizza which surprised us all, although he was happier with a wiener or a hamburger.

He could see everything even with only one good eye, hands as cold as ice, which meant a warm and loving heart.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Amelia (Kohlman) Brantner, and siblings Bernard Brantner, Gladys Flaskrud and Lorena Laschinger.

His legacy will continue to live on through his family who will carry on the farming tradition.

A line from a poem by Nancy Kraayenhof entitled “Close the Gate” encapsulates the spirit of who he was: "Your labor is done, your home now is heaven, no more must you wait. Your legacy lives on, your love of the land, and we will close the gate."

A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Rock Falls, with Father Timothy Welles as Celebrant. Interment will follow at the Parish Cemetery. A Visitation will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026 at the church from 9:00 AM until the hour of the Mass.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff at American Lutheran Home, Hillview Senior Living and St. Croix Hospice for the special care and support they provided Raymond.

Talbot Family Funeral Home and Scenic Rivers Cremation Center assisted the family. www.talbotfuneralhomes.com.