RAY H. GOLLNICK

(June 5, 1937 - June 10, 2023)

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Ray Gollnick, passed away Saturday June 10, 2023. He and his twin brother Roy were born in Willows, CA to Myrtle and Leonard Gollnick. They joined sister Wilda and brothers Wilfred and Leonard Jr. The family lived in Elk Creek, where they raised beef cattle and grew dry land grain crops. Their ranch completely surrounded Stony Gorge Lake.The family moved to Orland's Lake District in 1949. After graduating from Orland High School, Ray and Roy attended the University of CA at Davis, where they both played on the Cal Aggies' football team.

After their father had a heart attack, the boys came back to Orland, to take over the ranch. They built a new Grade A Dairy facility and farmed field crops for their livestock. Ray was without his life-long partner, when Roy died in 1968.

Ray married his high school sweetheart, Verda Belle Bayless, in 1957, recently celebrating 65 years of marriage.  Children are Shelley, Orland, and David (Stacey) of La Honda, CA. The Gollnicks have three grandsons - Branden Vincze, Orland, Jeremy (Jessie) Millert, Corvallis, MT, and Avery Gollnick, Marina Del Rey, CA. Ray cherished family times, realizing how blessed he was.

Ray devoted his working years to the Grade A Dairy, serving the community and the agricultural industry. He was on the Boards of Directors of Challenge Foods, Glenn Milk Producers, Orland Unit Water Users Ass'n., Federal Land Bank, and Dairymen's Feed & Supply Co-op. He was a director for the Glenn County Farm Bureau for 24 years and served as its president for two.

After selling out of the dairy business, Ray raised beef cattle for a while, and then planted his acreage in prunes and olives. He became fully retired in 2005.

Ray loved kids and related well with them. He strived to encourage children and young adults, whether in academics, sports, church, clubs or just developing their personalities and self-esteem. He served as a Trustee on the Lake Elementary School Board, was a charter member of the Butte College Foundation Board, and was a member of the Glenn County Board of Education for 18 years. In 2009, Ray was inducted to the Glenn County Educators' Hall of Fame.

Ray was active in the Federated Church since 1950, was an Elder in the church, and handled the Head Usher duties for over 30 years.Ray was an active member of the Orland-Laurel Masonic Lodge and was a past Worshipful Master. Through his association with the lodge, Ray became an ardent supporter of the Orland Art Center, located in the Masonic building, and was a volunteer docent.

A fervent patriot, Ray has been described as loyal to family, friends, God and country. He believed that your word was your bond. As a young man of 17, he joined the California National Guard, serving eight years, receiving an honorable discharge. He was a member of the Glenn Co. Republican Central Committee.  Ray dedicated his life to the service of others and to the service of our country. His active, lifelong engagement in public service is his legacy.

Ray and Verda Belle traveled in many of our United States. In 1976 they were members of a "People to People" delegation of dairymen that traveled to Holland, Denmark, the Soviet Union, Italy and Spain, visiting dairy related facilities. Over the years, the Gollnicks were fortunate to visit many other countries and islands, learning to appreciate the different cultures, architecture, beauty and especially history of the world. Ray never knew a stranger - greeting friends, old and new, with a kind smile and a firm handshake.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 24th at 10:30 a.m. at the Federated Church of Orland. Feel free to wear red, white or blue, if you so desire.

For those who would like to make a memorial gift, the family has suggested the Orland Free Library (333 Mill Street) or the Orland High School Athletics Program (903 South Street).

Arrangements are held under the direction of Sweet-Olsen Family Mortuary.