Emmett Raymond "Ray" O'Reilly, Jr.

Emmett Raymond “Ray” O’Reilly, Jr., age 83, longtime resident of St. Paul and currently of Cambridge, died Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at GracePointe Crossing in Cambridge.

Memorial Mass will be held at 10am, Saturday, October 8, 2022 at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church (105 N. 5th Street, Mankato, MN 56001) with visitation one hour prior. Military honors will be provided by the Mankato Area Veterans Memorial Rifle Squad. Burial will follow at St. Nicholas Catholic Cemetery. Please share a memory of Ray with his family online at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Ray was born November 4, 1938 in St. Paul to Emmett and Rena (Schmitz) O’Reilly, Sr. After graduating from Harding High School in 1957, he served as a police officer in the Army National Guard for 6 years. Ray worked as an accountant for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) for over 43 years until retiring in 2000. Ray lived in Mapleton from 2000 until December 2021.

Ray was a gentle soul who had an affinity for planes, trains, and automobiles. He enjoyed watching TV, reading books and newspapers, building model airplanes, listening to music and mystery radio programs, and caring for rescue dogs. Ray was a collector of electric Lionel trains, WW2 war bird planes, and antique automobiles. He also attended farm shows and enjoyed polka dancing at ballrooms. In earlier years, Ray enjoyed flying with his friend, Medric Goodboat. Ray was a longtime member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and had a deep faith. One of Ray’s greatest accomplishments was having several lifelong friends.

Ray was introduced to Barbara Kachelmeier in a defensive driving class in Mankato, and they were married on April 21, 2018 at. St. Ann Catholic Church in Janesville.

Ray is survived by his wife, Barbara O’Reilly of Cambridge; step-children, Teresa (James) Wise of Cambridge, Rebecca (Todd) Newberry of North Mankato, Jimmy (Bella) Kachelmeier of St. Peter, William (Amy) Kachelmeier of St. Peter; Tamara Kachelmeier of Brooklyn, NY, and John (Aimee) Kachelmeier of New Ulm; 9 step-grandchildren, Robert, Matthew, Maya, Austin, Jacob, Elijah, Olivia, Chloe, and Harper; step-great-grandchildren, Aurora, and a baby boy on the way; brother, Edward (Judy) O’Reilly of Plant City, FL; and cherished friends, Ron (Mary Kay) Laska of Eden Prairie and Dave (Claudia) Ryan of St. Paul, Loren Martin of Minneapolis, Derril (Dianne Smith) Hundley of St. Paul, and Gerald and Gloria Hofman and their son, Barry.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emmett and Rena O’Reilly.

If you have photos of Ray that you'd like to pass along to Barbara, please use the following information to share them directly to her photo frame:

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Ray ID # 948 111 8589