Raymond Bertram Munic, 81, a gentle man of good humor and deep faith, has died.

Born Feb. 8, 1932 in Eveleth, Minn., Ray was 13-years-old when he and his family moved to Duluth.

As a youth he worked in his father's long-gone service station located at Twelfth Ave. E. and Fourth St.

Shortly after graduating from Duluth Central High School, he was inducted into the U.S. Army, where he served in the Korean War from 1953 to 1955.

Ray later worked in and became part-owner of the family business, Duluth Auto Wrecking, where he was the jack-of-all-trades – waiting on customers, keeping the books, searching for and finding that rare auto part that someone desperately needed. Throughout the years, he disassembled a countless number of vehicles piled three cars high resting in the three-square blocks of the business' yard.

"It was before computers and he knew where all the merchandise was," said Barbara Munic, Ray's wife of 39 years. "It was mostly in his head that he knew where everything was."

Ray retired when the business closed its doors in 1997.

Despite Ray's struggle with a lengthy illness, he was always considerate. The first thing he did when talking to others was to inquire about their well-being. He did this up until the time of his death Friday, March 1 at Essentia Health Hospice in Duluth.

"Here he's not feeling well himself and he's asking 'how are you,'" Barbara said. "Ray always was nice. He went out of his way to be nice to everybody. He never said anything bad about anyone."

Ray enjoyed fishing, spending time with family and attending Adas Israel Congregation Synagogue, where he was a longtime member. He particularly enjoyed watching basketball and football on TV.

He also delighted in meeting his friends for coffee at Perkins.

Ray's humor surfaced when people asked how he was doing.
"The first hundred years are the hardest and then after that life becomes easier," he would say, punctuated by a laugh.

In lieu of flower, donations appreciated to charity of choice or Animal Allies Humane Society, Superior.

Ray is preceded in death by his father and mother, Ralph and Minnie Munic, and his brothers Morris, Milton and Robert Munic.

In addition to his wife, Barbara, Ray is survived by his sister Rosalyn Bernstein; sisters-in-law, Doris Munic, Pearl Munic and Elyse Kaner (fiancé George Bigelow); nephews, David Munic and Marty (Barbara) Munic; nieces, Darlene (Larry) Braufman, Ruth (Hayward) Wong, Donna (David) Miller, Susan Bernstein and Cheryl (Tom) Tepe; great-nieces, a great-nephew, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held at Downs Funeral Home, Tuesday, March 5, at 1;00 p.m. 1617 N. 19 St. Superior.. Phillip Sher will officiate. Interment will be at Adas Israel Cemetery 4820 Howard Gnesen Rd, Duluth.