Raymond "Ray" Napierkowski

Raymond V. Napierkowski, 78, Bismarck, died on January 17, 2020 at his home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 24, at Church of the Ascension, 1825, S 3^rd St, Bismarck.

Family will greet visitors from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 23, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. A vigil celebration will begin at 7:00 p.m.

A private burial will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck.

Ray was born on September 13, 1941 in Neffs, OH, the youngest of three children to Peter and Stella (Szklarkowski) Napierkowski. During World War II, when Ray was three, the family moved to Detroit, MI, where his father had obtained work in a factory making war machinery. His parents divorced when Ray was five and he spent the next 11 years alternating time in the household of each parent.

At 17, Ray took a Greyhound Bus to Milwaukee, WI, where he joined a beatnik colony, worked in a beatnik café and found the room to grow spiritually. Drafted into the Army in 1962, during the Vietnam War, and following basic training, he was assigned to Fort Devens, MA, where he worked at the headquarters of the Army Security Agency. He completed his military duty in 1965 as a Specialist E-5. The Army experience gave him confidence and a sense of purpose.

Following his military service, Ray moved to Seattle, WA, where he earned a bachelor’s, a master’s, and a doctoral degree. Through the mid-70s he was employed by the federal government directing programs in different states for the resettlement of Indochinese refugees. From 1979 to 1984, Ray worked in the U.S. Army in Germany as a mental health counselor, program developer and educator, and in 1992 he worked at the U.S. Naval base in Rota, Spain. From 1994 to 2005, he taught as a full professor of social work at the University of Mary, Bismarck, ND. Within that time span, he also traveled to teach in Ghana, Africa (2001-02) and Shenyang, China (2006-07).

In 2010, he married Jeannine Saabye, with whom he shared the remaining years of his life.

During his retirement years, Ray served as a volunteer at then St. Alexius Homecare and Hospice, and as a mental health counselor and trainer for the Red Cross. He enjoyed time at the YMCA and conversation with friends. He was also devoted to the care of animals and plants, and sought to respect all living things.

He was very proud of his son, Brent, and his daughter, Jowhara, as he was of his grandchildren, Johnny Ray, Dakota, Peyton and Bryce.

Ray lived deeply and had a number of spiritual experiences that transformed his life and pointed him in the direction of valuing service over power and simplicity over grandeur.

He is survived by his wife, Jeannine Saabye; son, Brent and grandsons Johnny Ray and Dakota, Camas, WA; daughter, Jowhara Aisha (Nick) Jones and granddaughters Peyton and Bryce, Silverdale, WA; half-brother, Joe Sanfilippo, Lake White, MI; brother-in-law, Roman Kachmarchik, Livonia, MI; sister-in-law, Angela Napierkowski, Novi, MI; cousins, Melodie Trudell and her husband, Darrel Morely, Milford, MI; and Darlene Trudell, Southfield, MI; nephew, Raymond Kachmarchik, Livonia, MI; and nieces, Donna Kachmarchik, Okemos, MI; and Kathy (Robert) Jolliff, Jerome, MI.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter Napierkowski and Stella Sanfilippo, Detroit, MI; brother, Edward Napierkowski, Novi, MI; and sister, Virginia Kachmarchik, Livonia, MI.

Instead of flowers, memorials may be made to organizations of the donor’s choice which provide services to at-risk youth, conserve the natural environment or shelter animals until a home can be found for them.

The family particularly thanks Dr. Dale Klein, Sanford Clinic North, Mandan, for his exceptional, compassionate care.