A longtime Monroe WI business professional and CPA, Raimond Cerbins, 95, passed away peacefully in his Sun City West, AZ home, Monday February 15, 2021, surrounded by family.
Born on April 30, 1925, to Emil and Elfriede Cerbins, in Latvia Rai grew up on a farm. He and his family escaped the advancing Soviet army and went to several places in Germany, going as far west as possible, finding refuge in Kempten, Germany within 25 miles of the Swiss and Austrian borders. Rai worked for UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) and the IRO (International Refuge Organization) from 1945 – 1950. He held several positions in Kempten, Butzbach and Frankfurt, Germany.
In August 1950 he immigrated to the USA and settled in Appleton, WI. He worked for Combined Locks Paper Company until he was drafted into the US Army in January 1952. During his tour of duty in Germany he met his wife Felizitas (Faye) Schwiedel in Kempten and they were married in St. Lorenz Catholic Basilica in Kempten, on September 25, 1954. In January 1955 they returned to the United States and Raimond was discharged with the rank of Corporal having received the Good Conduct Medal.
In January 1959 Raimond graduated from UW Madison with a BBA degree in accounting. Upon graduation he worked for the Wisconsin Department of State Audit, a CPA firm in Appleton, WI and from 1967 until his retirement in 1990 was a member and partner of a CPA firm (Ableman, Cerbins and Smith later known as Cerbins, Wyss, Reffue and Pas) in Monroe, WI. He was a member of the AICPA and the Wisconsin Institute of CPA’s, the Monroe Rotary Club, serving as its treasurer for several terms, St. Victor Catholic Church and board member for First National Bank. He was an usher at St. Victor since 1967, served on the parish council and assisted with bookkeeping and statement preparations in the early 1970’s.
After his retirement, in 1990, he enjoyed being a volunteer tax preparer for AARP. There was and still is a great need with tax preparation for the elderly citizens. His favorite group of people were the Toothless Tigers, an informal group of Monroe residents who met weekly at Turner Hall to discuss current events and past experiences.
Rai was an avid downhill skier enjoying skiing in Wisconsin, the UP of Michigan and Aspen, CO. In addition to skiing enjoyed golf, fishing, travelling and reading.
Sometime after Rai retired, he and Faye moved to Sun City West, AZ in 2003. What provided Rai with the most enjoyment was the time he spent with the “Monroe” group, playing golf, bridge and his long-time friendships within the group.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years Faye (Felizitas) children Eric (Judy) Cerbins, Berlin, WI, Alfred (Susan) Cerbins of Whitefish Bay, WI and son-in-law Tom Ray, Ludlow, VT and grandchildren Kristin (Brett) George, Craig (Megan) Cerbins, Katherine and Rachel Ray, Benjamin and Emily Cerbins and five great-grandchildren Harrison, Graham and Beckett George and Caroline and Luke Cerbins. And, many nieces and nephews in United States and Germany.
Rai was preceded in death by his daughter Andrea Cerbins Ray, his parents Emil and Elfriede, three brothers and one sister.
Rai’s family would like to extend our sincerest thanks to Sun Crest Hospice for their care during Rai’s final weeks.
Private family services will be held at a later date. Interment will be in National Memorial Cemetery of Phoenix, AZ. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials are suggested in Rai’s name to St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Parish, Monroe, WI and SunCrest Hospice, Phoenix, AZ. Please join Raimond’s family in sharing memories, pictures and videos on his tribute wall at www.caminodelsol.com.
