Raymond Edmund Baginski, 88, of Washington Township, a longtime educator, outdoorsman, artist and raconteur passed away March 9, 2020. He was born Oct. 28, 1932 in Detroit, the son of John and Anna Baginski.
He graduated from St. Florian High School in 1951. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army as a Corpsman during the Korean War, providing medical care for soldiers at the American Hospital in Paris. Upon completing his military service, he attended Wayne State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1963.
Raymond married his beloved wife Geraldine Gogolewski on Aug. 11, 1956.  He taught school in Warren for 34 years, including stints at Shadywood Elementary School and Warren Woods Middle School. Raymond was a natural entertainer, always effusive and ready to engage friends and strangers alike with his jokes, brainteasers and amusing anecdotes. He was an avid long distance runner, logging over 25,000 miles, a distance equal to circumnavigating the earth. He loved the outdoors, enjoying camping and backpacking, rock collecting, fishing and hunting. After retiring from his teaching career, Ray spent 20 years volunteering as a naturalist at national and state parks in Florida and Michigan. At the age of 75, he took up acrylic painting and became an accomplished artist, displaying his work at the public library in Washington as well as teaching his craft at many local venues. He has been a longtime member of Ss. John and Paul Catholic Church in Washington Township where he and his wife were active volunteers.
He is survived by his cherished wife and five children, Michael Baginski of Berlin, Vt., Patty (Jay) Whitehouse of Chicago, Judy Peacock of Denver, Dan Baginski (Barbara Paulsen) of Randolph, Vt., Jimmy Baginski (Amy Amend) of Lake Villa, Ill.; and grandchildren, Ray Whitehouse, Sarah Whitehouse, Ayla Peacock, Dakota Peacock, Catie Clark, Johnny Clark and Daniel Amend as well as twelve nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents John and Anna; brother, Tony and identical twin brother, Richard.
Visitation will be held 3-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at Roth-Muir Funeral Home, 296 South Main Street, Romeo, MI 48065 .
A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 13, 2020 at SS. John and Paul Catholic Church, 7777 28 Mile Road, Washington Township, MI 48094.
A guestbook is at www.RothMuirFuneralHome.com.
