Raymond J. Stumpf

Longtime Middleton/Cross Plains native Ray Stumpf died Tuesday, April 16, at UW Hospital, Madison, after a long, courageous battle with kidney disease. He was 74. Ray was born January 13, 1939, to August and Stella (Ripp) Stumpf of Cross Plains. After graduating from Middleton High School in 1957, Ray served for three years in the United States Army with the Third Infantry Division deployed to Wurzburg, Germany. After serving in the Army, he was hired in 1960 by Fauerbach Brewing Company, then the holder of the Pepsi Cola franchise in Madison. He retired from Pepsi in January of 2001 after 41 years. During his years with Pepsi, Ray was on the board of directors of both the Grocers' Manufacturers Representatives (GMR) and Mid-State Food Dealers' Association. In the early 1980s, Ray teamed up with long-time Madison area grocer Tom Metcalfe to create the first BratFest which consisted of Stumpf and Metcalfe manning two Weber grills on the sidewalk in front of Metcalfe's Sentry store at Hilldale Mall. The two men had brought their grills from home as well as a motley assortment of their own plastic patio furniture, scattered on the walkway, to create what would become a Madison tradition. Following retirement from Pepsi, he has been the Dealer Trade Coordinator for Zimbrick, Inc. of Madison for the past eight years. An avid golfer and UW sports fan, Ray was a long-time UW football and basketball season ticket holder and an avid Green Bay Packer fan. He also reveled in the creation and maintenance of his backyard koi pond, and beautiful flowers and plantings, which has been his creative passion since retirement. Ray is immediately survived by his wife of 47 years, Betty (Forsmo) Stumpf and two children, Brian Stumpf and Shari (Tim)Taylor, both of Cross Plains. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stella and August Stumpf of Cross Plains and a brother, Richard, of Madison. Ray is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Sue Brumm, as well as grandchildren, Jake and Josh Stumpf of Middleton and Lydia Taylor of Cross Plains. Funeral services will be held at ST. LUKE’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7337 Hubbard Ave., Middleton at 3:00 PM on Sunday, April 21, 2013, with the Reverend Roger Eigenfeld presiding. Visitation will be on Sunday from 1:00 PM until the time of the service at the church. The family wishes to thank the many doctors, nurses, and staff of the UW Hospital and Clinics who have supported Ray through his lengthy struggle, and a special thank you to Don and Carolyn Denson of Middleton for all their help and support throughout the years. “Every day is Saturday, and Have a Pepsi Day!” Visitation will be on Sunday from 1:00 PM until the time of the service at the church. Funeral services will be held at ST. LUKE’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7337 Hubbard Ave., Middleton at 3:00 PM on Sunday, April 21, 2013, with the Reverend Roger Eigenfeld presiding.